Police held back crowds of protesters outside University College London (UCL) on Saturday as demonstrators supporting Israel clashed with a pro-Palestinian crowd.
The counter-protest came in response to a pro-Palestinian encampment set up on the university’s campus in Bloomsbury, London.
UCL students have set up tents near the main campus building to show their opposition to the institution’s stance on the war between Israel and Hamas.
About 100 Palestine supporters beat drums and waved flags Saturday while chanting “Free Palestine” through a megaphone.
They held signs saying “get rid of death” and “no justice, no peace”. An individual speaking into a megaphone told the group not to speak to police.
They were confronted by around 50 pro-Israeli demonstrators brandishing a megaphone and chanting: “Supporters of terrorism are coming off our streets. Anti-Semites off our streets.
Both sides called for a ceasefire.
More than 40 Metropolitan Police officers were on scene with a fleet of marked police vehicles parked nearby. The police gathered the crowd on both sides of the road.
Three men carrying signs saying “Hamas are terrorists” and holding Israeli flags crossed the street to confront the crowd supporting Palestine.
The police immediately seized the men and took them back to the other side of the road. Police officers were seen subduing other pro-Israel demonstrators who attempted to cross the road.
Despite this, police allowed pro-Palestinian activists who had also crossed the road to shout in the faces of Israel supporters for several minutes. The officers then spoke to the group and asked them to return to their original position.
An Israel supporter who wore a T-shirt reading “Enough is enough” told the Telegraph: “University campuses have become threatening and racist places in the UK and US.
“There is currently a climate of fear and disgust in these places that I will not tolerate. That’s why I’m here, to stop these groups from intimidating people. »
Sharon, who chose not to give his second name, was demonstrating in support of Israel. The 47-year-old executive assistant from west London said: “These people are openly supporting Hamas, which is actually a criminal offense, and they are calling on Hamas to destroy an entire country.
“This is truly wrong on every level and unacceptable. They chant “Intifada,” which is a call for uprising, and “Khaybar, Khaybar, ya yahud,” which means “to massacre the Jews.” Hamas is a group of bloodthirsty terrorists who want to murder Jews. »
She added: “The police did not monitor the protests, which is why we are here to help them identify these criminals. The police just can’t be bothered. It’s not acceptable.
“That’s why it’s important to be here and show that we are not afraid and we will not be intimidated.”
Asked by the Telegraph, the Palestine supporters refused to speak.
The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.
Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian protests took place across the country. Protesters calling for a ceasefire were seen outside a Barclays bank on Tottenham Court Road, London. They claimed that Barclays was “one of the largest financiers of the arms trade with Israel”.
Barclays has been contacted for comment. The bank has previously explained that its investments reflect shares held by its private and retail clients and said it would “cease any relationship with any company that we have evidence of manufacturing cluster bombs or components.”
In Leeds, a similar protest took place, with images posted on social media showing around 100 people standing outside the Leeds Art Gallery, chanting: “We are the people, we will not be silenced, stop bombing Gaza now, now, now!
Pro-Palestinian activists also disrupted a student union awards dinner at the University of Leeds on Thursday evening, injuring a security guard during a demonstration.
It is understood that security was provided by the Leeds University union and that one employee was slightly injured during the disturbance.
Footage of the incident was released on Saturday, showing the crowd scrambling with security staff who tried to prevent them from entering the event.
A spokesperson for the University of Leeds said: “We are deeply disappointed that an annual celebration of students’ outstanding contribution to university life – organized by and for students – was temporarily disrupted by a demonstration by protesters entering the event.
“While we respect the right to free speech within the law, we have communicated clear guidance regarding protests to those currently camped out on our campus.”
The university said it would “take appropriate action” against the students.
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