A Tube driver has been recorded encouraging a crowd of chanting pro-Palestine passengers as he transported them to a massive rally in London today.
Addressing the passengers over the speaker system the driver says “free free” before those inside one carriage being filmed respond shouting “Palestine”
Continuing his message on the politically-charged subject of the Israel-Hamas war the London Underground worker adds: “Hope you all have a blessed day today, and look after yourselves”.
His well-wishes are greeted with whoops and cheers from the crowd who listen on as he concludes by saying “and keep those people in your prayers”.
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters are descending on London and Downing Street today in a mass display of support for the people of Gaza. Some placard-waving demonstrators were carrying messaging accusing Rishi Sunak, President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of war crimes.
Commenting on the video shared on the social network site X, one user wrote: “How do you think the Jewish people on your trains must feel hearing this? It’s a disgrace.”
Another added: “I knew antisemitism existed in the UK nowadays, but what I’ve seen over the last two weeks is beyond what I ever could have imagined. The worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust. This is not the Britain I grew up in.”
Other users on the social media site praised the driver, but some questioned if his employer would support his actions.
Express.co.uk have contacted Transport for London for comment.
In a statement on X the Metropolitan Police said: “The protest is well on its way. The front of the demonstration is heading along Whitehall. The back of the procession is still near Marble Arch.”
The force said a helicopter was up overseeing the march and it estimated the turnout was around 70,000.
Thousands of protesters have been gathering at Marble Arch in central London as part of a pro-Palestine march.
Attendees held signs that read “Freedom for Palestine” and “Stop Bombing Gaza” and chants included “Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go”, and “5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state”.
The platform at Marble Arch Tube station was briefly closed due to the crowds and there is a large police presence.
Aid has begun to flow into Gaza after the border crossing with Egypt was opened, with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly saying it was a “lifeline” for those suffering in the territory.
But he said the opening of the Rafah crossing could not be a one-off event and he would continue to push for humanitarian access to Gaza.
The Gaza Strip has been besieged and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. More than 1,400 people were killed in Israel during the terrorist atrocities carried out by Hamas.
The health ministry in Gaza says more than 4,000 people have been killed in the territory by Israeli strikes.
The UK has called for Israel to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza and act with “discipline” in its military response to the Hamas attacks.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking at an international peace summit in Cairo, warned that the Israel-Hamas dispute must not trigger wider instability in the region.
Mr Cleverly said: “The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped on October 7.
“And we are also clear that we must work, and they must work, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law.”
With the prospect of an Israeli ground assault on Gaza to root out Hamas, Mr Cleverly said he had raised the need to protect civilians with Tel Aviv.
