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LONDON (Reuters) – Protestors who climb Britain’s war memorials could face up to three months in jail and a fine of up to 1,000 pounds ($1,260) under government plans to create a new criminal offense following incidents during pro-Palestine protests.
Interior Minister James Cleverley said that in recent protests “a small minority were dedicated to harming and insulting those who paid the ultimate price for their freedom to protest”.
“Peaceful protest is fundamental in our county, but climbing our war memorials is an insult to these memorials and cannot continue,” he said on Sunday.
The government said the move would be part of a plan to be launched this week to strengthen the public order powers of the police.
There have been regular large demonstrations in London and other Western cities against Israel’s bombing of Gaza in response to a surprise attack by Hamas militants on October 7, which Israeli officials say killed more than 1,200 people.
war in israel and gaza
A total of 27,365 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday.
(Reporting by Paul Sandel; Editing by David Goodman)
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