The protest comes after Hamas handed over three male Israeli prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central London to protest Donald Trump’s proposal to the US to “take over” the Gaza Strip.
Thousands of people waving the Palestinian flag and saying “Hands Off Gaza” walked from Whitehall in Westminster to the US Embassy in Nine Elm in southwest London on Saturday.
Protesters also held banners that read, “Stay against Trump” and “Canada is not your 51st state.” Gaza isn’t your 52nd.”
![Pro-Palestinian demonstrators carry placards during a march against President Donald Trump's plan to drive Palestinians out of Gaza "take over" Territories, London, UK, February 15, 2025. [File: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-15T143221Z_421327635_RC22VCAYR6UA_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-BRITAIN-PROTEST-1739641974.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
Earlier this month, Trump’s proposal that the US could redevelop the US suffering enclave and turn it into a “Middle Eastern Riviera” attracted global condemnation.
His proposal is aimed at resetting the Palestinians elsewhere, and there are no plans for them to return.
“I think it’s totally immoral, illegal, unrealistic and absurd,” 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Stephen Capos told AFP news agency.
“You can’t simply deport two million people. Especially the neighboring countries say they won’t take them with you because they’re not good at heart but because they’re making those countries unstable. We’ve already said that. So, that won’t happen, but simply stating it as an endgame will do a lot of damage.
![A man portraying President Donald Trump is wearing a mask depicting President Donald Trump as he attends the march against Palestinians' plan to drive Palestinians out of Gaza "take over" Territories, London, UK, February 15, 2025. [Chris J. Ratcliffe/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-15T125116Z_442805191_RC20VCAD2INN_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-BRITAIN-PROTEST-1739641957.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
The march, sponsored by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), was London’s 24th most major pro-Palestinian protest since October 7, 2023.
A fierce police presence unfolded as officers shunned protesters from countermarches called “Stop hatred.”
At least 1,100 people have been killed in the Hamas attack. In addition, about 240 people were taken prisoner.
Israel’s retaliation campaign killed more than 48,239 people, while 111,676 were injured. The government’s media office has updated the death toll to at least 61,709, with thousands estimated to be dead under the tile rub.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamas released prisoners in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians who were released from Israeli prisons, completing the latest exchange of the vulnerable Gaza ceasefire contract.
Hamas issued a statement after its release stating it was an “updated message” to Israel.
“The release of the sixth batch of enemy prisoners has confirmed through negotiation that there is no way to release them, except to comply with the requirements of the ceasefire agreement,” the group said.
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