Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police outside a McDonald's restaurant in Manchester as part of a nationwide 'day of action' on Saturday. Several events across the country saw pro-Palestinian activists expressing their solidarity with Palestine and calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In Manchester, a group of men wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves held up a Palestine flag and pushed against police officers outside a McDonald's branch on Oxford Street. The officers formed a line to maintain order while the demonstrators attempted to storm the restaurant.

Meanwhile, in London, a pro-Palestinian demonstration took place outside Downing Street. The ongoing 'day of action' led to police issuing dispersal orders following unrest on Whitehall. In London Waterloo, British Transport Police arrested at least five people during a sit-in protest after they refused to leave the station despite a ban on public assemblies.

The Metropolitan Police shared a CCTV image of protesters gathered on Whitehall, opposite the prime minister's official residence. This demonstration was one of over 100 taking place throughout the country on Saturday.

In response to the protests, the British Transport Police deployed enhanced officer patrols across railway networks in England, Scotland, and Wales. Sit-in protests were witnessed at major train stations, including Manchester Victoria and Leeds stations.

While the majority of protesters engaged in peaceful demonstrations, there were instances of offensive chanting and the display of placards that crossed the line into racially or religiously aggravated offences. The police have emphasized that hate crime will not be tolerated and urged protesters to show respect and adhere to the law.

The 'day of action' also saw protesters gathering outside the offices of politicians. Demonstrators in north London gathered outside the parliamentary office of Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Similar protests were held outside the office of Harrow East Conservative MP Bob Blackman, who voted against a motion calling for a ceasefire.

Amid the protests, there have been arrests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of encouraging terrorism and showing support for a proscribed organization. The Met Police reported a total of 386 arrests for related offences since the attacks in Israel on October 7.

The protests and clashes between police and demonstrators highlight the intensity of the pro-Palestinian movement in the UK, with activists demanding a ceasefire and raising awareness about the conflict in Gaza. The 'day of action' aimed to bring attention to the ongoing violence and initiate discussions about peace and justice in the region.