PALESTINE campaigners have condemned the Met Police’s decision to ban a planned protest outside the BBC’s headquarters in London.

A national march for Palestine was due to take place from Portland Place on January 18.

But the coalition of organisers behind the march, which includes Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War Coalition, said that police informed them that they have U-turned on the previously agreed route.

The route had been agreed nearly two months ago and has already been used twice in the last 15 months.

“The excuse offered by the police is that our march could cause disruption to a nearby synagogue,” a statement by the coalition said.

“In fact, the closest synagogue to the BBC is not even on the route of the march.

“Moreover, as the Met Police have acknowledged, there has not been a single incident of any threat to a synagogue attached to any of the marches.” 

It added that representatives from the Jewish bloc have written to the police seeking a meeting to express their concerns that the police are choosing to listen solely to pro-Israel Jewish voices.

The campaigners said that the ban came following pressure from representatives from pro-Israel groups. 

This includes Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who celebrated the horrific actions of the Israeli military in Gaza as the “most outstanding possible thing that a decent responsible country can do.”

The march, which calls for a full arms embargo and immediate ceasefire, was due to start outside the BBC in protest against the outlet’s pro-Israel bias in its reporting on Gaza. 

BBC Online Middle East editor Raffi Berg’s “entire job is to water down everything that’s too critical of Israel,” one journalist told Owen Jones in an investigation last month.

PSC director Ben Jamal said: “Israel is intensifying its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the UK government remains complicit in this horrific violence. 

“Meanwhile, pro-Israel groups and individuals including the chief rabbi are putting pressure on the police to prevent public support for Palestinian rights. 

“It is unacceptable that the police are yielding to this pressure and threatening to impose conditions to prevent legitimate protest at the BBC.

“We call on them to reverse this decision and allow people to exercise core democratic rights.”

Stop the War convener Lindsey German said the ban was a “denial of our civil liberties.” 

“No proper explanation has been given as to why we can’t go to the BBC, after it being agreed with the Met, but by now saying we cannot march near a synagogue on a Saturday, the police are clearly trying to further shut down our peaceful demonstrations. 

“No threat has ever been made during our protests to a synagogue or those attending one — and the police have been unable to provide evidence to the contrary.

“As Israel’s genocide in Gaza intensifies, it is more important than ever that we oppose and resist this attempt to silence us and our criticism of the BBC's reporting. We will march.”

A Met Police spokesperson said: “As we have shared with the PSC, it is our view that a protest forming up so close to that synagogue on a Saturday, the Jewish holy day, when congregants will be attending Shabbat services, risks causing serious disruption.

“We are hopeful that the PSC will now alter their plans in light of our position, but should they wish to continue to use Portland Place as a form-up point we will consider the use of Public Order Act conditions as appropriate.”