Thousands march through Edinburgh for pro-Palestinian campaign

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators braved rain to march through Edinburgh on Saturday, as part of a national campaign.

One veteran activist said the recent move to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror laws had not deterred people from showing their support to the wider movement.

A large group gathered outside St Giles’ Cathedral in the early afternoon before marching down the Royal Mile, chanting while waving flags and banners.

The march stopped in front of the UK Government headquarters at Queen Elizabeth House, where speeches were given outside the building, before heading on to Bute House – the First Minister’s official residence.

Other demonstrations took place in Manchester, Bristol, Truro and London – calling for the ban on Palestine Action to be reversed.

While there were dozens of arrests at the other events, Police Scotland said no arrests had been made in relation to the march in Edinburgh.

Mick Napier, founding member of the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said there was a large turnout in the Scottish capital because of outrage over Israel’s plan for a “humanitarian city” in Rafah.

Speaking as the march set off down the Royal Mile, he told the PA news agency: “It’s large, it’s bigger than we’ve had for a very long time and it’s entirely due to the building of the Israeli concentration camp in Rafah.

“They’ve called it a humanitarian city but people are utterly horrified, cumulatively, by what’s happened during 22 months of genocide.”

He said the ban on Palestine Action was “absurd” and police had been on a hair trigger, arresting people for placards and banners which contain the words Palestine and action.

Mr Napier said the ban had not deterred people from supporting the wider pro-Palestinian movement, saying: “I think people are enraged.

“I look back to previous campaigns against the war in Vietnam, when that issue became fused with the issue of free speech it rose to a higher level.”

Earlier this week, three women were arrested under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into the external fence of the Leonardo UK factory in Edinburgh.

The group Shut Down Leonardo claimed it was making components for F-35 fighter jets but the defence company says it does not directly supply equipment to Israel.

Asked if such actions worked against the pro-Palestinian movement, Mr Napier said: “I think in the past it may have put some people off, not any more.”

Other activists at the march condemned the move to ban Palestine Action.

Jane Ferrell, who travelled from Fife, said: “It’s Palestine Action one day, what’s it going to be in the end?

“Trade unionism, the Labour Party activists, who knows?”

Former MP Tommy Sheppard spoke to the crowd outside Queen Elizabeth house, saying: “Today in the Middle East a genocide is being prosecuted in real time and we are watching it on television play by play.”