Controversial pro-Palestine chant ‘from the river to the sea’ was projected onto London’s iconic Big Ben last night.
The slogan scrolled across the Elizabeth Tower in big bold letters as pro-Palestine campaigners gathered outside the Houses of Parliament while MPs were embroiled in a chaotic Gaza ceasefire debate in the Commons.
Questions are being asked as to why the slogan was allowed to appear on the side of the tower, which some say insinuates the total removal of Israel.
Some on social media said Big Ben had been ‘vandalised’ and accused the Met Police of ‘doing nothing’.
People need permission from both the Commons Speaker and Westminster City Council planners to legally project onto the side of the Houses of Parliament.
The ‘Stop the Genocide’ rally took place from 5pm and was met with a heavy police presence.
Officers and police vehicles can be seen as the slogan lights up on the side of Big Ben, with ‘Gaza’ and ‘stop bombs’ being shone on the side of the building.
In 2016, the Commons administration warned Big Ben and other parliamentary buildings must not be ‘besmirched’ by commercial images being projected onto them.
Then Tory chairman of the Commons administration committe Sir Paul Beresford told the Evening Standard: ‘Everybody knows Big Ben and we don’t want it besmirched with graffiti, even if it’s light-placed graffiti.
‘Please respect the building, its importance and the fact that it’s internationally loved.’
Last night, protesters waved placards calling an end to combat actions between Hamas fighters and the IDF, ahead of a feared ground action in Rafah where some 1.5million displaced Palestinians are sheltering from the ongoing war.
The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, which organised the march as part of the Free Palestine Coalition, claimed ‘thousands’ had gathered in the square.
MailOnline has contacted the Met Police, Westminster Council, the Commons Speaker’s office, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign for comment.
The action came after 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.
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 came 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.
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