HUNDREDS of thousands of demonstrators are expected to march in London on Saturday on the 78th anniversary of the Nakba and to unite against the far right. 

Protesters are demanding an end to Britain’s complicity in Israel’s military occupation, apartheid and genocide.

The march marks the annual, globally observed occasion to commemorate the Nakba, or “catastrophe” in Arabic, in which 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes and 500 towns and villages destroyed in the foundation of the state of Israel in 1948.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) deputy director Simon Foster said: “After 78 years of Nakba, we know that the rationalisations that have allowed the British political establishment to normalise Israel’s ethnic cleansing, military occupation, apartheid, and now genocide, are exhausted. 

“There can be no valid reason or excuse for complicity in Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

Warning that the Nakba is “ongoing,” he said: “The same logic of ethnic supremacism, use of overwhelming violence and disregard of international law is being displayed by Israel now as it was then. 

“This can only continue and worsen because Israel is afforded impunity by states such as Britain, which refuses to use the range of mechanisms of boycott, divestment and sanction available to it, and instead treat Israel as an ally.

“[Prime Minister] Keir Starmer and [Foreign Secretary] Yvette Cooper want to continue to assert they are doing everything they can. 

“But their words are empty of meaning when we see them continuing to supply the Israeli military and cover up for the crimes of its state.”

Tommy Robinson supporters will also gather in central London on Saturday, with more than 100,000 expected to attend the event organised by the fascist figurehead, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. 

The government has blocked 11 foreign “far-right agitators” from entering Britain, including politicians, commentators and anti-Islam influencers from across Europe and the US.

As he visited a Metropolitan Police operation room today, Sir Keir said: “Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple.

“We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence.”

Heavy restrictions have been put in place to keep the two marches separate, with added concerns that football fans will travel directly from the FA Cup final to the far-right event.

Live facial recognition technology will also be used for the first time.

Organisers of the Nakba anniversary demonstration and action against the far-right, including include PSC and Stop the War Coalition, have hit back at “untruths” from the Metropolitan Police about their own protest aims.

They said in a statement: “As the police know, our march will be a peaceful protest against the catastrophe inflicted on the Palestinian people since 1948. 

“Lennon is a known fascist, Islamophobe and antisemite who has organised scores of violent, racist protests and has been jailed for assault.”

The groups noted that there were fewer arrests per person on their marches “than at the average Glastonbury festival,” and that the police force’s repeated untrue claims that the Palestine movement aims to march past synagogues “only create tension and fuel conflict.”

“Thousands of Jewish people march with us,” they said. 

“Our argument is with the Israeli government’s genocide against the Palestinian people and our own government’s support for it.”

They called on the Met to maintain a sterile zone around Trafalgar Square and Cockspur Street, describing Saturday’s demonstration as “a huge and peaceful expression of majority opinion in this country; against racism and for peace and justice in the Middle East.”

Protesters will gather at Exhibition Road at 12noon, before marching to Pall Mall.