A huge queue of pro-Palestine protesters formed outside Parliament today as they prepared to meet their MPs to demand a vote for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Demonstrators waved Palestine flags and chanted ‘Israel is a terrorist state’ while they waited to speak to MPs as part of a ‘mass lobbying’ session. 

Thousands of activists will descend on Parliament Square for a ‘Stop the Genocide’ rally from 5pm – which is being met with a heavy police presence. 

MPs are currently debating an SNP motion demanding an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza.

Twelve people were arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in central London on Saturday for offences including inciting racial hatred, supporting a proscribed organisation and assaulting emergency workers.

Pro-Palestine demonstrators outside Parliament as MPs debate an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza

Protestors waved Palestine flags and chanted ‘ Israel is a terrorist state’ while waiting in the rain 

Thousands of activists descended on Parliament Square for the ‘Stop the Genocide’ rally from 4pm – which is being met with a heavy police presence

Pro-Palestine protesters shout as they attend the rally outside the Houses of Parliament

Protesters met at the south of Park Lane, holding banners calling for a ‘ceasefire now’ and chanting ‘free, free Palestine’, before congregating outside the Israeli embassy where speeches were made. 

Among the speakers was former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, who both called for ‘justice’ for the Palestinian people.

It comes amid high tension in the Commons over the SNP motion calling for a ceasefire. 

In a controversial development, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle announced he had selected amendments tabled by Labour and the Government to the nationalists’ motion.

The move, which came in for criticism from the Conservatives and the SNP, means Labour MPs will be able to vote for Sir Keir’s stance, which includes the caveats that Hamas must hand back hostages and lay down weapons.

There had been suggestions that, with the Conservative Government also submitting an amendment stating its own position of wanting an ‘immediate humanitarian pause’, that the Speaker would not choose Labour’s amendment for debate.

Such an outcome could have pushed those Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire towards backing the SNP motion, in a repeat of a damaging rebellion that was witnessed in the autumn on the Middle East issue.

In the chamber, there was uproar at Sir Lindsay’s decision to choose the Labour amendment for debate.

Twelve people were arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in central London on Saturday

The ‘Stop the Genocide’ rally will begin at around 4pm, with officers restricting those taking part to Parliament Square

It comes as two people were hit with criminal charges following a previous pro-Palestine march on Saturday 

Lucia Whittaker De Abrew, 34, from Derby has been charged with failing to remove a face covering when required, while 48-year-old Martin Prady, from Martock in Somerset, is accused of obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

De Abrew will appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on March 5 and Prady is due to attend Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on March 4.

Five of the arrested have been bailed, while the others face no further action, the Metropolitan Police said.

Tens of thousands are thought to have been at Saturday’s demonstration, with Scotland Yard saying the ‘overwhelming majority’ were peaceful and acted lawfully.

Police first arrested a woman on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation, after she was allegedly spotted with a signpost which read ‘Long Live The Intifada’.

Later, while arresting a man for carrying an anti-Semitic banner, a punchup broke out in which officers were assaulted – leading to six more arrests.

Two further arrests were made against demonstrators who refused to remove their face coverings.

Prince William called for an end to the fighting in Gaza in an unprecedented royal intervention on Tuesday 

In an extraordinary – and symbolically significant – statement the future king said the ‘terrible human cost’ of the conflict had seen ‘too many killed’

Other marchers, some of them children, carried placards declaring ‘I thought Hitler was dead’ and ‘Turns out killing kids is okay, I’m scared for my life’. 

Besides the familiar chant of ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,’ another rallying cry was ‘Occupation no more, Israel is a terror state’. 

Prince William called for an end to the fighting in Gaza in an unprecedented royal intervention on Tuesday.

His carefully-chosen words are the strongest yet by a senior royal in response to Israel’s devastating military action in Gaza following the sickening terror attacks of October 7.

They came ahead of a visit by the Prince of Wales to the British Red Cross in London to discuss the spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza and beyond. 

His statement was issued with the knowledge of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and welcomed by Downing Street, which said his ‘measured’ call for an end to the fighting was in line with the Government’s position.

William said: ‘I remain deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October. Too many have been killed.

‘I, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. It’s critical that aid gets in and the hostages are released.

‘Sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home.’