On Saturday, thousands of people were anticipated to participate in a pro-Palestinian march in London. However, municipal police issued a warning to participants, stating that anyone found to be racist would face arrest at the demonstration.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), based in the UK, is preparing a march on Saturday. While 24 Israeli prisoners were freed on Friday as part of a four-day truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the PSC stated that this was “only a brief and partial respite for the people of Gaza”.

Hamas was expected to release 14 more hostages on Saturday, Egyptian security sources said, and Israel prepared to free 42 Palestinian prisoners on the second day of the truce.

PSC called for a permanent halt to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“We want … a permanent ceasefire, which can then lead to a political solution, and that we’re very, very far away from that and our government should be doing much more to make sure that happens,” anti-war activist Lindsey German, who planned to join the rally, told Sky News.

Police said on Friday more than 1,500 officers would be on duty this weekend to handle the protest.

“We are still seeing the cumulative impact of continued protest, increasing tensions, and rising hate crime,” Ade Adelekan, the Metropolitan Police’s deputy assistant commissioner said, adding that leaflets would be given to protesters to warn them of the penalties for racist behaviour.