In London, the police detained 493 people during a demonstration in support of Palestine. This protest was part of the 'Action for Palestine' movement, which has been officially recognized as a banned organization in the United Kingdom.
The demonstration began with a silent memorial action at Trafalgar Square, where participants sat on the sidewalk with placards in support of Palestine, ignoring the government ban. The first arrests occurred after 1:00 PM, when the police detained several activists who were unfolding banners.
The police reported that the operation was completed, but the total number of detainees may increase, as cases of some detained individuals are still being processed.
A police representative stated that officers are experiencing emotional and physical exhaustion due to the ongoing protests, which divert their resources from important security issues. According to her, the focus should be on ensuring the safety of the public rather than conducting constant demonstrations.
Today, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of the Palestinian state in an effort to facilitate the resolution of the conflict between Palestine and Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed disagreements with Britain's stance on recognizing Palestine as a state.