Pro-Palestinian protesters defy Rishi Sunak to march in 48 locations across UK today after PM warned organisers not to let extremists hijack the demos

Pro-Palestinian protesters will march in 48 locations across the UK today after Rishi Sunak warned organisers not to let extremists hijack protests. 

Dozens of marches are expected to take place towns and cities across England, Scotland and Wales today as activists continue to call for an end to the war in Gaza.

Many of the protests will be directed against Barclays Bank, which organisers claim holds ‘substantial financial ties with arms companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel’.

The ‘Day of Action’ comes after the Prime Minister last night warned of ‘poison’ on the streets of Britain following the aftermath of the October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel as he urged protestors to reject extremist messages.

But speaking ahead of today’s planned protests, organisers told the Prime Minister to ‘look in the mirror’ and expel some senior MPs from his party.

Pro-Palestinian activists take part in the ‘Day of Action for Palestine’ in a protest outside Barclay’s Bank in Hammersmith, central London

A Boycott Barclays for Palestine rally and protest takes place outside Barclays bank in Broadmead shopping centre, Bristol

Activists hold placards calling for Barclays to ‘stop arming Israel’ in Bristol as part of a Day of Action for Palestine taking place across the UK 

Mr Sunak said in a speech outside No 10 Downing Street on Friday: ‘I want to speak directly to those who choose to continue to protest: don’t let the extremists hijack your marches.

‘You have a chance in the coming weeks to show that you can protest decently, peacefully and with empathy for your fellow citizens.

‘Let us prove these extremists wrong and show them that even when we disagree, we will never be disunited.’

The Prime Minister said a line has to be drawn so that while people should be able to ‘march and protest with passion’ in support of Gaza, demonstrators ‘cannot call for violent jihad’, justify the actions of Palestinian militant group Hamas, or ‘call for the eradication of a state or any kind of hatred or antisemitism’.

Up to 48 protests are expected to take place across the UK this weekend, with 13 planned in London alone. a larger national march that often takes place in the capital. 

This weekend’s local protests will take place before another national march, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, takes place in central London on next Saturday on March 9.

Responding to Mr Sunak’s comments, Ben Jamal, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign posted on X saying: ‘So Rishi Sunak wants to deal with ‘extremists’.

‘Maybe he should start with politicians, political commentators and religious leaders who support a state, on trial for genocide, in its mass slaughter, and deliberate creation of famine. Not those protesting against it.

People take part in a Day of Action for Palestine protest in London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Protesters in London carry a Palestine flag as they march in solidarity of people in Gaza

One protester, left, carries a sign saying Free Palestine as he and others take part in a protest in London today 

Pro Palestinian demonstrators gather outside the venue as delegates arrive for the Labour North regional conference at Newcastle University today

A woman holds two dolls covered in white cloth, appearing to represent dead bodies, during a protest in Newcastle today

Protestors carry signs and placards calling for sanctions against Israel

Protestors could be seen gathering outside the Labour North regional conference venue in Newcastle today 

An activist holds a sign reading free Palestine up to the window of the Labour North regional conference venue

Activists hold dogs, resembling dead bodies, to the windows of the Labour North regional conference venue in Newcastle today

A man holds a silent and peaceful protest outside Thame Town Hall in Thame, Oxfordshire

‘As for his ire at those who seek to divide us, does he ever look in the mirror, or around his cabinet table? Come back when you’ve kicked @SuellaBraverman, @RobertJenrick @michaelgove out. That’s just for starters.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appeared to back the Prime Minister’s message calling for unity in the country.

In a statement, he said: ‘The Prime Minister is right to advocate unity and to condemn the unacceptable and intimidatory behaviour that we have seen recently.’

But his comments were also met with criticism, particularly from those he took aim at including Mr Galloway, who secured almost 40 per cent of the vote in a constituency that has a strong Muslim population.

He accused Mr Sunak of using Britain’s Muslim population as a ‘whipping boy’ and treating them as ‘second class voters’.

‘And that is what he was doing in Downing Street today, a despicable and dangerous thing,’ said the newly elected MP, who has become a divisive figure in British politics in recent decades.

‘And secondly, alarmed at the growing support for Palestine, for Gaza in Britain, the attempt is being made to paint these peaceful demonstrators – almost always demonstrating without a single arrest being made, without so much as a paper cup being dropped – they are trying to conflate peaceful democratic protest in Britain with some kind of mob, with some kind of violence and intimidation.’

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gives a speech at Downing Street on March 1 

George Galloway, one of Britain’s most divisive politicians, swept to victory in the Rochdale by-election earlier this week

Mr Galloway speaks after being declared the winner in the by-election on February 29

Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), speaks to protestors ahead of a Pro-Palestine march in November last year

At least 30,228 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry.

Israel began a retaliatory offensive against the Palestinian region following Hamas’s surprise assault on Israel on October 7. 

The horrifying attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures, while at least 250 people were taken hostage. 

During a week-long truce in late November, Hamas freed more than 100 Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Israel releasing about 240 Palestinian prisoners.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said more than 100 people were killed and at least 700 wounded after the reported shooting by members of the IDF of a desperate crowd of Palestinians as they waited for aid. 

Hamas authorities in Gaza say 112 Palestinians were killed Thursday after Israeli troops opened fire during an aid delivery in Gaza City.

But Israel disputed the claims. saying many of the dead were trampled in a chaotic crush and that its troops fired only when they felt endangered by the crowd.

At least 576,000 people in the Gaza Strip – one quarter of its population – are on the brink of famine, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.