In a demonstration held in London on Saturday in support of a cease-fire in Gaza, a pro-Palestinian speaker has sparked controversy with their remarks, leading to police investigation. The demonstration, part of a global day of action against Israeli military action in Gaza, saw thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters marching through central London.

Videos circulated on social media showing Palestinian activist Mohammed el-Kurd addressing the crowd gathered in Parliament Square. During his speech, he made a provocative statement, calling for the "normalization of massacres" as a means to combat complacency and raise awareness about the plight of Gazan children.

However, following the backlash, el-Kurd clarified his statement, stating that he never intended to advocate for the normalization of massacres. He explained that his words were meant to highlight the need to not become complacent and to reject any acceptance or normalization of such horrific acts.

The London Metropolitan Police have taken note of the video footage and the remarks made by el-Kurd. In a statement issued on a specific date, they announced that they would be assessing the matter and seeking to speak to the individual involved.

While el-Kurd claims to have misspoke in that instance, additional videos have surfaced online, showing him directly calling for the extinguishment of Zionism from the world. He referred to Zionism as apartheid, genocide, murder, and a racist ideology rooted in settler expansion and racial domination, adding that it must be eradicated.

Both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations have been frequent in the months following the Hamas-triggered war in Gaza. The deadly attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas terrorists resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people in Israel, mainly civilians, with more than half of the 250 hostages taken still believed to be held captive in Gaza.

Since Israel's response to the attack, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that over 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the past 100 days.

A pro-Israel rally is scheduled to take place in Trafalgar Square in London on Sunday, aiming to provide another perspective on the ongoing conflict.

As authorities continue to investigate the controversial remarks made by the pro-Palestinian speaker, tensions around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict persist both locally and globally.