THOUSANDS of anti-war protesters gathered in central London on Saturday in the first national demonstration for Palestine this year.

The monthly protest, which is the 34th, also called on the government to oppose war in the Middle East amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

Co-organiser Stop the War Coalition said that the movement “remains strong and refuses to be duped” by US President Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace and his Gaza redevelopment plan.

Stop the War said in a message to supporters: “As we have seen so far this year the greatest menace to world peace is President Trump.

“With his increasingly threatening behaviour towards Iran, his Board of Colonisation for Gaza and the kidnapping of Venezuela’s President Maduro, Trump is pushing the world towards global conflict.

“But rather than cutting ties with Trump’s America, [PM Sir Keir] Starmer is imitating and appeasing — lending the US military support, increasing arms spending and attacking our living standards in the process, and promoting forms of nationalism that are fuelling racism.

“We must resist Trump’s imperialism and demand Starmer does too.”

According to the group, about 100,000 people attended the protest.

Meanwhile, a small group of Ukip protesters gathered in nearby Trafalgar Square after being banned from assembling in east London’s Whitechapel district over fears of attacks on the large Muslim population, despite warnings from the pro-Palestine protest organisers to the Met Police that they could face attacks by the far-right group.

A small group of pro-Israel protesters also attempted to stir conflict  as they gathered at Aldwych.

At least two people were arrested under terror laws for carrying banners reading the words: “We are all Palestine Action.” The group was proscribed in July.

Activist Peter Tatchell was also arrested for having a placard that included the words: “globalise the intifada.”

Mr Tatchell said: “The word intifada is not a crime in law. The police are engaged in over-reach by making it an arrestable offence. This is part of a dangerous trend to increasingly restrict and criminalise peaceful protests.”

In an X post, the Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of “a 74-year-old man on suspicion of a public order offence.”

The force said a total of 14 people were arrested: one person from the counterprotest and 13 from the anti-war demonstration.