'Hundreds of thousands' expected at pro-Palestine march in London - as Met Police warn months of protests have caused 'fear and uncertainty' among the capital's Jewish communities

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'Hundreds of thousands' of protesters are expected to take part in a pro-Palestinian march through London today (Saturday), as the Metropolitan Police warn months of protest have caused 'fear and uncertainty' in Jewish communities, and a counter demonstration had been cancelled over safety concerns.

The march, which has been organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), will assemble at Parliament Square from 12pm and set off half-an-hour later on a route ending at Hyde Park, where speeches will be given.

Organisers are anticipating a large turnout for the event, which they say is in response to Israel's 'brutal attack' on Gaza.

A static demonstration organised by pro-Israel group Enough is Enough will take place at the same time in Pall Mall, along the route of the pro-Palestinian march.

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) was also due to hold a counter demonstration on Saturday from 12pm until 2pm, but was cancelled the day before.

'Hundreds of thousands' of protesters are expected to take part in a pro-Palestinian march through London today (Saturday) amid a warning by the Metropolitan Police that months of protest have caused 'fear and uncertainty' in Jewish communities

Organisers are anticipating a large turnout for the event, which they say is in response to Israel 's 'brutal attack' on Gaza. Pictured: A Palestine Solidarity Campaign march earlier this month 

According to the Met, protests like these held since October 7 have cost around £38.4 million and required 44,722 officer shifts, as well as 6,399 officer rest days to be cancelled

The organisation said it cancelled the 'walk together' event - expected to attract thousands of people - after receiving threats and identifying 'hostile actors' who posed a risk to the safety of Jews.

The PSC march will be its 13th national protest since the first was staged on October 9.

According to the Met, protests like these held since October 7 had cost around £38.4 million and required 44,722 officer shifts, as well as 6,399 officer rest days to be cancelled.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the force aimed to police 'without fear or favour', and added that protests in London had 'been a particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities'.

He said the events had caused some Jewish people to stay away from central London on protest days, avoid the Tube, hide their identities or otherwise change their behaviour.

Mr Twist added: 'I know there are people who feel the solution is to see these protests banned.

'The bar for such a decision is incredibly high - it requires a risk of serious public disorder of the sort we simply haven't seen either in this period of protest or for several years.'

The now-cancelled Campaign Against  Antisemitism event had been arranged after the organisation's founder, Gideon Falter, was threatened with arrest at a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this month. During the incident, one officer described Mr Falter, who was wearing a kippah, as 'openly Jewish'

The Metropolitan Police was branded 'beyond appalling' after an officer threatened to arrest Mr Falter for 'breaching the peace' because of his 'openly Jewish' appearance

The Met said each protest will be subject to conditions imposed under the Public Order Act limiting where protesters are allowed to go.

The PSC march must stick to a pre-agreed route via Whitehall, Piccadilly and Park Lane, the force added - as it stressed that areas in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy, near Hyde Park, were not to be entered.

The smaller Enough is Enough demonstration is restricted to an area in Pall Mall.

Both protests must have concluded by 5pm, the Met said.

The now-cancelled CAA event had been arranged after the organisation's founder, Gideon Falter, was threatened with arrest at a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this month

Mr Falter was pulled aside by an officer who said he was 'breaching the peace' because he was 'quite openly Jewish'.

He later accused the Metropolitan Police of failing to address 'the threat of antisemitic violence' and has called for a mass demonstration by Jewish and non-Jewish people to show 'no part of London should be unsafe'.

The Met said it understood the event may be held at a later date.

To date,  415 arrests have been made during the protests - including 193 for antisemitic offences and 15 terrorism arrests, mostly for the alleged support of Hamas, which is a proscribed group in the UK.

Ben Jamal, director of the PSC, said the march was 'fuelled by love for the principle of the dignity and rights of all human beings'.

He added: 'As mass graves of Palestinians are uncovered in Gaza, the call for an immediate ceasefire and for an end to weapons sales to Israel is now supported across the political mainstream and by huge swathes of the British public.

'Those marching know that they are on the right side of history.'