A pro-Palestine student march planned for central London on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 — the third anniversary of the Hamas October 7 attacks on Israel — will go ahead under strict police conditions, Scotland Yard confirmed, even as Jewish groups, universities and senior politicians condemn the timing. A separate pro-Palestinian demonstration planned for the same day in Paris has been outright banned.
Strict conditions — but no ban
The march is being organized by the self-described University of London Coalition, bringing together student groups from eight London universities including King's College London, LSE, SOAS and UCL. Around 300 students are expected. Their call is to "take to the street" and "demand an end to the Palestinian genocide," with promotional materials reportedly using the red triangle motif and the "from the river to the sea" slogan.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman, who leads public order policing for the Metropolitan Police, said the force has imposed stringent conditions under the Public Order Act: demonstrators must assemble only in the designated area at Lincoln's Inn Fields, follow a prescribed route via Kingsway and Southampton Row to Russell Square, and disperse by 2pm. Face coverings that conceal identity are prohibited anywhere in the form-up, procession or rally, and Harman warned of "zero tolerance for hate crime" — chanting or placards calling for intifada or encouraging unlawful extremism will lead to arrest.
"This event is being held on the third anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the start of the ensuing conflict in Gaza. This will be a day of mourning and reflection for many in London and we know the serious concerns that this event has caused Jewish communities in particular." — DAC James Harman
Why the police say they cannot stop it
Harman has been blunt about the legal limits of police power: "The police cannot ban protests and can only ask the Home Secretary to do so if the risk of serious disorder is so high that it can't be managed by conditions. That high bar is not met here." Under Section 11 of the Public Order Act, organizers must give police a name and address — but officers say they have been unable to identify any specific individual willing to accept they are the organizer, and that failure alone does not meet the legal criteria for a ban.
The Met says it asked the organizers on four separate occasions to move the protest to a different day, and wrote to universities asking them to take steps to ensure Jewish students and staff do not "feel excluded, targeted or unsafe." Harman appealed directly to participants to "reflect on the impact and distress it will cause on this very significant date, and exercise your right to protest on a different day."
Condemnation from across the political spectrum
The timing has drawn condemnation from Jewish organizations and senior politicians. Education Secretary Lucy Powell called on organizers "to show compassion and respect for others" by moving the protest to another date, and said those mourning should be free from intimidation, harassment or abuse. Union of Jewish Students president Raphi Leon put it more simply: "There are 365 days of the year." Justice Secretary Alex Norris said he "can't understand" why anyone would choose this date. Condemnation has also been reported from Sir Michael Gove and Lord Blunkett. The Met is deploying more than 600 officers across the city, and a further pro-Palestinian protest is planned for Saturday, October 10.
Paris takes a harder line
France has gone further. Paris Police Prefect Patrice Faure, acting at the request of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, ordered a ban on a demonstration "against the genocide in Gaza and for respect of the ceasefire" planned for October 7 in Paris, citing the heightened terrorist threat and historically high levels of antisemitic acts. The ban was praised by French MP Caroline Yadan and denounced by anti-Zionist groups — a mirror image of the debate playing out across the Channel.
The takeaway
London and Paris have landed on opposite answers to the same question: what does a democracy owe the mourning on an anniversary, and what does it owe the protest? One chose conditions, the other chose a ban — and both are being denounced by someone today.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Hitman (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources: Metropolitan Police; The Jerusalem Post; i24NEWS