18th May 2024 London… another day, another protest march. As with previous demonstrations, pro-Palestinian supporters (or “hate marchers” as our definitely-not-hateful, definitely-not-divisive national treasure Suella Braverman likes to call them) turned out in their thousands to call for a ceasefire and an end to the ongoing massacre and famine in Gaza.

This march had special significance, as it marked the anniversary of the Nakba when, in 1948, “approximately half of Palestine’s predominantly Arab population, or around 750,000 people, were expelled from their homes or made to flee, at first by Zionist paramilitaries through various violent means, and after the establishment of the State of Israel, by the Israel Defense Forces.” (Source: Wikipedia)

In Israel, since the Nakba, Palestinians have been considered “others”… in a land where they could never be accorded full rights as citizens – even the right to free movement – on the grounds that they were of the wrong ethnicity.

Those that live in the West Bank are terrorised on a daily basis by “settler” thugs, sanctioned and armed by an extremist state. Their homes or property could be, as thousands before have been, seized at any moment by those claiming a greater right to possession on the grounds of biblical lineage. Palestinians in Gaza have been blockaded inside an open-air prison (in the words of David Cameron) since 2008 – refugees. To symbolise this, marchers carried oversized keys representing the desire of survivors and their children to, one day, return to their homes and to the land from which they were ethnically cleansed 76 years ago.

A counter protest by pro-Israel supporters confronted the marchers through placards, chants and a fair serving of middle fingers across a modest line of police and barricades. But there was no violence other than the accusations slung between sides. Marchers called “Shame on you”, countered by chants of “IDF, IDF”, “Rapist supporters”, “Hamas is Isis” and “Get the Islamists off our streets… Send them home”.

Israeli flags flew side by side with union flags, as British “patriots” stood shoulder to shoulder with their pro-Israel counterparts in their shared contempt. Some placards called for a release of hostages while others denounced the marchers as extremists, Islamists… supporters of Hamas, terrorism and rape.

The false narrative, propagated by the likes of Braverman, Sunak, Walney and others, and seemingly embraced by Starmer’s Labour – not a good look for the incoming government of the UK and the reason socialists with a conscience are deserting the party – would be seen for what it is by anyone who actually attended.

There were no extremists in evidence, no pro-Hamas supporters, no Islamists, no antisemitic acts or expressions (vastly more Jews were marching for ceasefire declaring “Not in My Name” than took part in the pro-Israel counter-protest). The atmosphere was overwhelmingly one of compassion, empathy and respect for human rights of all people – regardless of their faith or skin colour. Young and old… Jews, Christians, Muslims… marched peacefully with one aim – to stop the killing, stop the ethnic cleansing, and restore dignity and human rights to Palestinians.

Somehow, that sentiment translates, in the minds of our politicians, to something extreme… or Islamist. Perhaps because, in their eyes, full rights and equality are something reserved for some but not others.