Hundreds march in York during pro-Palestinian protest

The activists met in St Helen’s Square from 12pm today (Saturday May 24) where a peaceful demonstration was also taking place by a group called the Great British National Strike.

Tens of demonstrators taking part in the strike waved Union Jack flags and sang the national anthem along with chants of “England”.

People take part in the Great British National Strike in St Helen’s Square on Saturday (May 24) (Image: Newsquest) Those taking part in the strike declined to comment to The Press about their involvement, but a Great British National Strike spokesperson wrote on its social media page that the demonstration was organised to oppose illegal immigration and policies including net zero. Similar strikes took place across the UK today.

The groups chanted back and forth before the pro-Palestinian demonstration marched around the city centre.

People take part in the Great British National Strike in St Helen’s Square on Saturday (May 24) (Image: Newsquest) There was a heavy police presence in York city centre during the demonstrations.

Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, spoke during the pro-Palestinian demonstration and said “a few of the people” taking part in the Great British National Strike in York “were my constituents”.

“I wanted to engage and wanted to listen to what their concerns were,” the Labour MP said.

“They’re really upset because they’re WASPI [Women Against State Pension Inequality] women, so they’ve lost the value of their pension or they had their winter fuel payment taken.

“And they’re things that I’ve been fighting on so hard because I believe it is an injustice – it’s a huge inequality, and people are living in poverty in 2025 in our city of York.

“Of course I want to fight that corner… I really feel for people that are struggling to put food on the table and keep themselves warm.”

Hundreds of people march in Goodramgate, York, during a pro-Palestinian protest on Saturday (May 24) (Image: Newsquest) Ms Maskell said she attended the pro-Palestinian protest because “we’re watching a genocide at this time”. “We see the atrocities being perpetrated against innocent people

“The evil acts of Hamas should not be conflated with the plight of ordinary Palestinian people.”

Hundreds of people march in York during a pro-Palestinian protest on Saturday (May 24) (Image: Newsquest) Ms Maskell welcomed the UK government earlier this week joining with world leaders to condemn the Israeli government’s “egregious” actions in Gaza but said: “We are still trading arms [to Israel]… and we are yet to recognise the state of Palestine.

“I fear that there will no longer be a state of Palestine by the time we get to recognising it, so we must recognise it now.”

Situation in Gaza ‘is the worst atrocity of this century’, says protester

Chris Brace, from the York Palestine Assembly who helped organise the protest, said: “We’re here today as extremely concerned citizens.”

He called on the UK government to “fulfil its moral and legal duties in preventing the genocide that is currently occurring hour by hour in Palestine”.

Chris Brace, from the York Palestine Assembly, speaks during the pro-Palestinian protest in St Helen’s Square, York, on Saturday (May 24) (Image: Newsquest) “This is the worst atrocity of this century, and yet our government and other governments appear to be happy to stand by and watch it unfold.”

Mr Brace said Sir Keir Starmer’s condemnation of the Israeli government’s actions earlier this week was “concern expressed too late”.

One protester, Joanne, from Harrogate, said: “I’ve come here to protest against what’s going on in Gaza. Starving the population is a crime against humanity.”

Joanne, who came to the protest from Harrogate (Image: Newsquest) She said the government must take stronger action to help Palestinians. “I think it’s beholden to us, as the population, to hold our government to account – otherwise we’re going to be complicit in a genocide.”

Israel’s retaliatory offensive, which has destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.