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Thousands in London Rally for Fully Implementing Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza

Protesters holding placards and flags face a line of police at Trafalgar Square in central London at a National demonstration for Palestine, on January 18, 2025, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)
Protesters holding placards and flags face a line of police at Trafalgar Square in central London at a National demonstration for Palestine, on January 18, 2025, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)
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Thousands in London Rally for Fully Implementing Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza

Protesters holding placards and flags face a line of police at Trafalgar Square in central London at a National demonstration for Palestine, on January 18, 2025, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)
Protesters holding placards and flags face a line of police at Trafalgar Square in central London at a National demonstration for Palestine, on January 18, 2025, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)

Thousands of people turned out in the streets of London on Saturday for a mass pro-Palestinian rally to call for the full implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.

The Metropolitan Police force said about two dozen people were arrested after some protesters broke through a police line containing the rally and failed to disperse according to police instructions. One man was detained on suspicion of supporting banned organizations, while four others were detained over public order offenses.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has organized many huge rallies in London since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, said the movement will not stop despite the ceasefire agreement.

“We have ongoing demands. We need this ceasefire to be enforced. We need a withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza. we need everyone held in illegal detention — including 10,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails, in prison camps in Gaza — to be released,” said the campaign’s director, Ben Jamal.

Protesters were also calling for the UK government to pressure Israel to end its oppression of Palestinians, he added.

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Lebanon: Aoun Says No Solution for Israel’s Violations Except Through Diplomacy

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
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Lebanon: Aoun Says No Solution for Israel’s Violations Except Through Diplomacy

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated commitment to dialogue to address Lebanon’s long-standing dispute with Israel’s violation and occupation in south Lebanon, saying that it can only be addressed through “diplomacy”.
He reiterated "the importance of diplomatic solutions in resolving conflicts, as the Lebanese people have grown weary of wars”, a Presidency statement quoted Aoun as saying on Friday.
Aoun’s remarks come amid support from the Higher Islamic Shiite Council for his approach to address the issue of Hezbollah’s arms through dialogue.
“Diplomatic efforts may not yield immediate results, but we are working daily with international parties, away from the media spotlight, to achieve the desired outcome”, said Aoun during his visit to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
The Lebanese president’s comments come amid heated political debate over the future of Hezbollah’s weapons and the call to centralize arms under state authority. Last week, Aoun reiterated his determination to make sure the state has a monopoly over weapons.

Aoun’s strategy to address the issue of Hezbollah’s arms garnered the support of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council. “Let the issue be addressed through calm dialogue away from media and political exploitations. Let the decision be a unifying national one away from submissions to external demands”, said Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, vice-president of the Higher Shiite Council.
Aoun had earlier reaffirmed that communication between the presidency and Hezbollah remains active, with tangible results on the ground.

He also highlighted that he and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri are in agreement on all matters, particularly the goal of placing weapons solely under the control of the state.

Disarming Hezbollah has emerged as a key condition in ongoing discussions surrounding Israel’s potential withdrawal from the remaining five disputed points it occupies in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have linked any pullout to assurances that Hezbollah’s military presence near the border will be curbed, citing security concerns.

For its part, Lebanon maintains that full Israeli withdrawal is a prerequisite for lasting stability, but internal divisions over Hezbollah’s role complicate negotiations. While President Joseph Aoun and others advocate for addressing the group’s arms through national dialogue, critics warn that tying disarmament to Israeli withdrawal risks prolonging the deadlock.