Nearly two years after the October 7 Hamas attacks and the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, thousands of demonstrators marched through central London to denounce rising antisemitism in the UK and around the Jewish world.
The event began at Hallam Street and paused outside Broadcasting House, the headquarters of the BBC. There, stand-up comedian and activist Josh Howie addressed the crowd, calling on the government to “defund the BBC.”
“The BBC is a danger to Jews,” he said. “The BBC is no longer an arbiter of truth. Here is a fact for you, BBC: Hamas is a terrorist organization. Hamas started a war. There is no famine. There is no genocide.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis was among the high-profile figures who led the march, alongside Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) Chief Executive Gideon Falter, Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg, Minister for Levelling Up Michael Gove, shadow attorney-general David Wolfson, actress Louisa Clein, and social media personality Dov Forman.
The procession passed the Cenotaph and ended at Parliament Square. Participants carried placards, Union Jacks, and Israeli flags. Among those present were representatives of Christian Action Against Antisemitism and the UK’s Iranian community.
Despite the grave message, parts of the march had a celebratory atmosphere, with Hebrew songs ringing out along the route. Many participants chanted for the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza – 48 are still believed to be captive more than 700 days after their abduction.
