One man on the pro-Palestine march was videoed on social media holding up seven fingers and saying: “seven”, allegedly in reference to the October 7 Hamas attacks, which saw some 1,200 people in southern Israel murdered and more than 250 taken hostage into Gaza.
Heidi Bachram, prominent campaigner against antisemitism, posted on X: “This pro-Pal was making the number 7 with his fingers and shouting ‘7 October’ a threatening taunt at Israelis and Jews today. My relatives were murdered and kidnapped that horrific day and tis made me SICK to my stomach.”
On October 7, Heidi’s husband Adam Ma’anit’s cousin Tsachi Idan was taken hostage into Gaza after he had seen his eldest daughter Mayan, 18, murdered by Hamas terrorists in their home on Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
Images of the ayatollah were on display during the pro-Palestinian march in London on January 31 (Photo: Elliott Franks)Elliott Franks
Other pro-Palestine demonstrators were seen carrying images of the Iranian ayatollah and flags of the IRGC. On Friday, Britain confirmed the IRGC would become a proscribed group, following the killing of tens of thousands of protesters during the current Iranian uprising.
Stop the Hate, which organised a counter-protest alongside Iranian dissidents and screened footage from October 7 alongside the brutal clampdowns on women and Iranian protesters, posted on X: “Those on today's hate march can't say they weren't told about the atrocities committed by Hamas and the IRGC. They know what they're marching for - and it's not peace….Time to call out these marches for what they are.”
Counter-protesters, Stop the Hate and Iranian dissidents on January 31, 2025 in central London (Photo: Elliott Franks)Elliott Franks
Those arrested from the pro-Palestine march included prominent human rights campaigner and LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell.
According to an article in the Evening Standard, he was arrested for holding a placard which read: “Globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance. End Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.”
In a statement released by the Peter Tatchell Foundation, the 74-year-old said the arrest was "an attack on free speech", adding: "The Arab word intifada means uprising, rebellion or resistance against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
"It does not mean violence and is not antisemitic. It is against the Israeli regime and its war crimes, not against Jewish people."
His foundation said that Mr Tatchell was taken to Sutton police station to be detained.
Following yesterday’s arrest, the Met Police said in a post on X: "Officers policing the Palestine Coalition protest have arrested a 74-year-old man on suspicion of a public order offence. He was seen carrying a sign including the words 'globalise the intifada'."
A spokesperson for the Met added: “There have been 15 arrests as part of today’s policing operation.
“One from the Stop the Hate counter protest, 13 from the Palestine Coalition protest and one that was unrelated to protest.”
A spokesperson for Stop the Hate said the detainee was released by police on Saturday evening.
David Taylor, Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead hit out at John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington for speaking at the pro-Palestinian rally, posting on X: “…yesterday you spoke at rally/march at which some of the protestors did Nazi salutes, called for Israel to be obliterated, and pro-Ayatollah, Hamas and Hezbollah placards, clothing and chants were seen/heard.”
