Hundreds of thousands expected at pro-Palestine march in London

Met police ban face coverings in Westminster as organisers accuse force of bowing to political pressure

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Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators are expected to march through central London on Saturday in the UK’s first national demonstration since the UN’s international court of justice ordered Israel to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide in Gaza.

Organisers have said the Metropolitan police are expected to take a harsher approach compared with previous demonstrations, accusing the force of bowing to political pressure from the government to restrict the marches.