Tens of thousands of pro-Palestine protesters converged on central London to commemorate two years since the commencement of the war in Gaza. These significant demonstrations occurred just one day after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect, and as displaced Palestinians began returning to their homes in Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The protests initiated along Victoria Embankment on Saturday, October 11, drawing large crowds. Stalls were set up selling keffiyehs, and numerous placards were distributed bearing messages such as "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", "it's not a crime to act against genocide", and "Starmer has blood on his hands, free Palestine". Jeremy Corbyn, co-founder of Your Party, was observed leading the procession across Westminster Bridge, assisting in carrying a prominent banner that read "national march. Free Palestine". While he remained silent during chants of "from the rivers to the sea" and "Keir Starmer you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide", he was seen chanting "Palestine will be free" after another shouted "Netanyahu you will see".

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the organiser, noted that this event marked the 32nd national demonstration in support of Palestine since October 2023. Ben Jamal, the director of the PSC, explained that the march proceeded despite the ceasefire because the proposed plan, which he attributed to Donald Trump, was not considered a blueprint for enduring peace. He argued that the plan failed to address the fundamental causes of violence, the system of apartheid in Palestine, or the right to self-determination for Palestinians, affirming that the group's campaigning would persist "until the Palestinian people are finally free".

Meanwhile, a counter-protest organised by the Jewish-led Stop The Hate group was anticipated at the junction of Aldwych and the Strand. Police implemented measures to avert potential clashes between the two groups. Officers were seen escorting several individuals carrying placards like "we stand with Britain's Jews" and a sign featuring a bee in the Star of David that read "it was never about Palestine it was always about hate" away from the pro-Palestine crowd. Shouts of "shame" and "free Palestine" emanated loudly from the pro-Palestine demonstrators as these individuals were removed. Another protester from Our Fight, a pro-Israel organisation, was also observed among the pro-Palestinian supporters.

Scotland Yard confirmed that it had imposed conditions on both demonstrations under the Public Order Act, aiming to "prevent serious disruption". These conditions defined specific areas for protesters to gather and designated a march route. The government, in the preceding weekend, had announced enhanced police powers to restrict protests, allowing them to consider the "cumulative impact" of repeated demonstrations. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had previously called for the cancellation or postponement of pro-Palestine protests after a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester on October 2, which resulted in two fatalities, stating that repeated large-scale protests had caused "considerable fear" for the Jewish community.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged protesters to "respect the grief of British Jews" and confirmed that the government was reviewing protest laws, including chants. He stated, "I’ve asked the home secretary to look more broadly at what other powers are available, how they’re being used, and whether they should be changed in any way," adding, "I think we need to go further than that in relation to some of the chants that are going on at some of these protests."

The slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" remains a point of contention. Some consider it antisemitic, believing it advocates for the eradication of Israel. Conversely, proponents of the chant assert that it is a call for an end to the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite the varied perspectives, the movement, supported by millions globally, continues its intensive campaigning to demand an end to complicity with what it terms "Israel’s crimes", as displaced Palestinians embark on journeys back to their war-torn homes.