Cries of “From London to Gaza, globalise the intifada!” rang out as tens of thousands of pro-Palestine activists marched through the capital on Saturday.

As the crowd wound its way from Bank in the City of London to Whitehall, sections also chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, regarded by many Jews as being a hateful call for the destruction of the state of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian state.

One hand-drawn placard showed a star of David, symbol of the state of Israel, being pushed into the sea, with around it the words “The Final Solution?” – a clear reference to the Holocaust.

Another placard stated: “Israel’s Gaza Holocaust.”

People on the march held signs reading “Free Palestine” and “End the siege” while others chanted: “One, two, three, four, occupation no more, five, six, seven, eight, Israel is a terrorist state.”

Before the march began, police arrested a man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.

Scotland Yard said: “As the march formed up, officers identified a man with a placard making comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.

“He has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.”

The march – the latest in a series of weekly protests in London and around the country called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Stop the War Coalition and other groups – came after the UK abstained on a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a motion that was vetoed by the US.

Among those leading the march in protest at the continued Israeli attacks on Gaza was the independent MP Claudia Webbe, who was expelled from the Labour Party in 2021 after being convicted of harassment of a woman who was having an affair with her then-partner.

Previous marches have seen openly anti-Semitic placards and banners held by sections of the crowd, prompting criticism of the motives of some activists and a pledge by the police to crack down on any expressions of support for terror groups.

Ahead of Saturday’s march the Metropolitan Police tweeted: “There is an exclusion zone in place prohibiting any protesters from assembling in the area around the Israeli embassy, shown on the map below.

“We will keep the need for further powers and conditions under review. Officers will again be distributing leaflets to those taking part in the protest.

“Our message is clear – keep on the right side of the law and report those who don’t.”

A group of Jewish people on the Embankment were seen holding up placards stating “This Jew wants a ceasefire now” as some of the passing protesters applauded.

The main chant from demonstrators, many of whom had brought their children, was “Ceasefire now”.

The Metropolitan Police said it was investigating the wording of a number of signs on the march, including ones comparing Israel’s attack on Gaza with the Holocaust or showing photographs of victims of the Holocaust alongside Palestinians killed in the current conflict.

In response to one such sign being brought to their attention Scotland Yard said: “Thank you for making us aware of this, our public order crime team are investigating.”