Pro-Palestine protesters have come under fire for chanting in support of Houthi rebels in a massive London protest today.
They could be heard yelling “Yemen, Yemen, make us proud, turn another ship around”. Early Friday morning, the US and UK carried out airstrikes in Yemen following a multitude of Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in protest of Israel’s brutal retaliation on Gazan citizens following Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack.
Commenting on the chants, Scott Benton, Conservative MP for Blackpool South, said: “Another embarrassing spectacle on our streets with the latest anti-Western bandwagon. Apparently attacking unarmed cargo ships is now ok.”
Tom Tugendhat, Minister for Security, said: “It’s extraordinary to watch young men and women – who I’m sure would tell you they believe in freedom and equality – supporting groups like the Houthis who have reintroduced slavery, and systematically violate the rights of women and girls.”
The Houthi movement, who base their beliefs on extremist Islamic principles, have been described members of the UN as “systematically violating women and girl’s rights”. According to Mwatana for Human Rights, a Yemeni human rights organization, the Houthis have also impeded women’s access to health care since 2017, particularly reproductive health care.
The Iran-backed rebel group, which supports Hamas, targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea in recent months. It vowed to damage any vessels it believes to be heading to and from Israel until a ceasefire in Gaza is reached.
There were a few Yemeni flags spotted in today’s march. One placard read “hands off Yemen” while another said: “UK + US wants war. Yemen supports Palestine. Gaza wants to live.”
Six arrests were made at the march. Two of these were “in relation to offensive placards”, the Met Police said, while another three were arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation – an offence under the Terrorism Act.
One person was held for being in possession of “stickers to be used for criminal damage”.
Around 1,700 officers were planned to attend the event, with the Met saying officers from forces outside London were brought in.
Users on social media reported that the Met was handing out flyers warning people to “keep on the right side of the law”, adding that “while the majority of people are complying with these rules, a minority have crossed the line”.
The protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza, something which a recent YouGov poll commissioned by Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) showed 71 percent of Brits either definitely (48 percent) or probably (23 percent) support.
Over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed and 56,100 injured in Israel’s retaliation to Hamas’ attack on October 7.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, accused the British Government of “complicity” with Israel.
Speaking in Parliament Square, he said Palestine was a “nation of freedom fighters”, adding: “I stand before you with a broken heart but not a broken spirit.”
Restrictions on the protest stipulated that any person participating must not deviate from the specified route, the speeches had to end by 4.30pm, and the whole event had to end by 5pm.
No participant in the protest was allowed to enter the area around the Israeli Embassy.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said he had been briefed by Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on plans to “ensure order and safety” during the protest. He said: “I back them to use their powers to manage the protest and crack down on any criminality”.
The Labour Party has also backed the strikes in Yemen.
A mass protest was also held in the giant Sanaa square in Yemen. Abdel Azim Ali, one of the protesters, told AFP: “If America and its allies decide to declare open war on us, we’re ready for it and we won’t have any choice but to bring victory or fall as martyrs.”
Another demonstrator said: “We’re waiting for the day when we’re fighting a war with America.”
