London, Thanasis Gavos

More than a thousand British police officers from various local police forces outside London are being recruited to support the Metropolitan Police ahead of Saturday’s major pro-Palestine demonstration in the British capital.

The demonstration, the fifth in as many weekends, is causing reactions as this Saturday marks Armistice Day, that is, the anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Organizers have changed the usual route of the demonstration to avoid the Cenotaph, outside Downing Street, where the next day will be the annual ceremony in Remembrance of the Fallen, led by King Charles.

The Metropolitan Police decided to allow the demonstration to go ahead, despite calls for a ban from politicians, columnists and social media users. The commander of Scotland Yard, Sir Mark Rowley, also clarified in a meeting with Prime Minister Sunak, who had spoken of a “provocative and disrespectful” demonstration, that the law is not violated and the criteria for banning the demonstration are not met.

However, concern about public order has been heightened by repeated recent “incendiary” interventions by Home Secretary Suella Braverman in charge of policing. After calling the pro-Palestine protests “hate marches,” she accused the police of bias in favor of left-wing protesters in an op-ed in The Times.

Rishi Sunak is now under intense pressure to oust Ms. Braverman, which, however, has the support of the far right wing of the Tories.

The minister’s interventions also caused the decision of far-right groups to hold counter rallies in central London on Saturday to ‘guard’ the Cenotaph.