You've made your point — now stop and go home, Cleverley tells pro-Palestinian protesters

Pro-Palestinian protester outside Parliament last week Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Home Secretary says pro-Palestinian protesters have «proved their point» view» and questioned whether holding regular marches «adds value» to their calls for an immediate ceasefire.

James Cleverley questioned what future demonstrations in support of an end to the violence in Gaza hoped to achieve, given the UK's Conservative government turned out to “disagree” with their position.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration supports an immediate pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow the release of hostages and allow aid to reach the territory.

No 10 says any ceasefire will come with conditions, including including conditions in which Hamas — the Palestinian militant group that carried out the deadly October 7 raids on Israel that sparked the war — can no longer control the Gaza Strip to ensure its sustainability.

Mr Cleverley told The Times that protests across Britain since the war began had put «huge pressure» on the country's police.

Protesters outside Parliament last week Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The senior Tory said: “The question I ask myself is, 'What are these protests genuinely hoping to accomplish?'

“They made their point, and they made it very, very loud, and I'm not sure that these marches every couple of weeks add value to the argument.

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“They're not saying anything new «

During one of the recent protests on Saturday, demonstrators blocked Tower Bridge in central London and set fire to fire.

Tensions over the conflict in the Middle East have renewed debate over the safety of MPs, with protesters attacking MPs' homes to demand action on the Gaza Strip.

The Home The Secretary of State said it was vital MPs were not «intimidated» into them to change their position on the Gaza conflict due to threats from protesters.

In chaotic scenes during the Gaza ceasefire debate in the House of Commons last week, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle broke parliamentary precedent because was concerned about the intimidation experienced by some Members of Parliament.

Mr Cleverley said: “I think so. It is very important that no one, no parliamentarian, feels that he should be bullied into taking a position that he does not believe is the right one.

“So I honestly don’t know what these regulars are trying to achieve. protests to achieve.

“They have made their position clear, we recognize that there are many people in the UK who hold this position.

«We respect that, but the UK Government's position is to disagree with that position for very practical, well-thought-out reasons.»

More protests to take place this weekend

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign is planning further protests in support of the sector over the weekend Gaza.

Organizers are urging supporters to take part in local protests Saturday against Barclays Bank, which it said has “significant financial ties to arms companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel.”

A ceasefire march in central London is planned for Saturday 9 March. .

US President Joe Biden has expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement can be concluded by next week, with negotiations continuing on Tuesday.

In addition, farmers in Wales are planning to hold a protest . outside the Senedd in Cardiff on Wednesday.

They oppose proposed changes to post-Brexit subsidies that would require more land to be allocated for tree planting and habitat creation.