From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 15, 2024
Police nab 2 pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters for ‘criminal damage’ at London war memorial
LONDON, United Kingdom — UK police arrest two pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstrators after a protest at Britain’s Cenotaph war memorial in central London.
A Palestinian flag was laid in front of the Cenotaph and “180,000 killed” was spray-painted on the ground in front of the monument, photos and video footage showed, drastically inflating the unverified Hamas-run health ministry figure of over 38,000 dead during the war in Gaza.
Israel says it has killed some 15,000 combatants in battle and some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel during the October 7 attack.
The Cenotaph is the focus every year of of national events to commemorate Britain’s war dead.
“Two women were quickly arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and are in custody,” the Metropolitan Police says on X, adding that damage was caused to the road and not to the monument itself.
In a statement, the Youth Demand group says its supporters had taken action to “commemorate the thousands killed in Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza.”
It says Youth Demand was calling for a two-way arms embargo on Israel and for the new UK government to halt all new oil and gas licenses granted since 2021.
Supporters planned to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament by head of state King Charles III on Wednesday, it adds.
