Thousands rally in London for release of hostages held by Hamas

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in central London on Sunday for the “National March for the Hostages,” organized by Stop The Hate UK and supported by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

The march, which began at 3 p.m., proceeded to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official residence at 10 Downing Street for a rally calling for the immediate release of hostages still held by Hamas.

Organizers said the event united the Jewish community with allies from across the United Kingdom, stressing the urgency of international action following the release of new videos showing hostages in dire conditions in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

Speakers urged the British government to intensify diplomatic pressure for their release, warning that “time is running out.”

British barrister and international-law expert Natasha Hausdorff took the stage, saying a unified message was being sent to the government and to the prime minister “that they are actively harming the chances of us being able to bring the hostages home” by declaring their intention to recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Jerusalem meets certain demands.

Hausdorf led the crowd in a chant directed at Starmer and the government: “Let them go!”

Adam Ma’anit, cousin of slain hostage Tsachi Idan; and Ayelet Stavitsky, sister of slain hostage Nadav Popplewell, also spoke at the rally.

James J. Marlow, former CEO of the National Jewish Assembly in Britain, in an X post contrasted Sunday’s peaceful march with the weekly pro-Palestinian marches in the city.

“Not one has their face covered or is looking to fight the police. It’s a peaceful demonstration, unlike what we see on Saturdays in London in support of Hamas,” he wrote.

According to the BBC, one man unconnected to the march was arrested for assault and a racially aggravated public order offense, while two others were detained after a dispute among attendees in the crowd.

Niyak Ghorbani, an Iranian-British activist and podcaster based in London, said he was assaulted while protesting for the release of the hostages.

In a social media post, Ghorbani described being approached by a man who deliberately stepped on his foot and shoved him. Following a brief exchange in which the assailant became verbally aggressive, a woman and a second man, dressed in black, joined the confrontation.

“The man in black threw the contents of a bottle he was holding into my face,” Ghorbani wrote. “The liquid soaked my face and clothes, and had a foul smell. Immediately, he grabbed my throat and squeezed it with full force for about 20 seconds with the clear intention to kill or strangle me.”

Ghorbani gripped the attacker’s shirt to prevent escape. The assault ended only when Community Security Trust officers and members of the public intervened, pulling them apart before police arrested the attacker.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed to JNS on Monday that shortly after the protest began, “there was an altercation between people in the crowd where a man was grabbed by the throat.

“A 41-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of non-fatal strangulation. “A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of ABH [bodily harm] level assault,” according to the police statement.

“All three of those arrested remain in custody,” the spokesman added.

Minor scuffles also occurred near Trafalgar Square, where a few people chanted pro-Palestinian slogans before being escorted away by police.

The Metropolitan Police arrested at least 466 people on Saturday in Parliament Square, London, for holding placards supporting Palestine Action, an anti-Israel group designated as a terrorist organization by British lawmakers in July.

Eight additional people were detained, including five on charges of assaulting police officers.