In a pro-Palestinian demonstration held in London's Parliament Square on Saturday, a speaker's inflammatory remarks calling for the "normalization of massacres" have sparked outrage and prompted police to look into the matter. The rally was part of a global day of action organized to show solidarity with Gaza and demand a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Video footage circulating on social media captured Palestinian activist Mohammed el-Kurd addressing a crowd gathered at the demonstration. El-Kurd's words resonated with the audience as he passionately stated, "I dare you to look into the eyes of a Gazan child and tell him you tried your best. Our day will come. But we must not be complacent. Our day will come. But we must normalize massacres as a status quo."

Following the backlash to his controversial statement, el-Kurd responded on social media, denying that he ever made such a statement. He clarified that he meant to convey a message against complacency and the normalization of violence. However, videos posted online showed el-Kurd's speech also contained explicit calls for the eradication of Zionism from the world, describing it as "apartheid, genocide, murder, and a racist ideology rooted in settler expansion and racial domination."

London police have acknowledged the video and the remarks, stating that they are assessing the matter and seeking to speak with el-Kurd. The Metropolitan Police released a statement saying, "Officers are aware of the remarks, the commentary surrounding them, and the subsequent statements issued by the speaker."

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a surge in both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations worldwide. The tensions were ignited when Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack on October 7th, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians. Furthermore, approximately 250 individuals were taken hostage, with more than half believed to still be held captive in Gaza.

Since Israel's response to the Hamas attack, the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, claims that over 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the past 100 days. Amidst the ongoing clashes, a pro-Israel rally is scheduled to take place in Trafalgar Square in London on Sunday.

As the fallout from the controversial remarks continues, more attention will be placed on the role of provocative rhetoric in the already tense Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The remarks made by el-Kurd have opened up discussions around the boundaries of free speech and the need for responsible dialogue amidst such sensitive issues.