UK Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Intensify Calls for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Pro-Palestinian activists in the UK escalated their demands for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel's 92-day conflict with the blockaded strip persists.
Despite the prolonged duration of the conflict, pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the UK are amplifying their calls for a swift and enduring ceasefire. Across various cities, including Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, Canterbury, Oxford, and Hastings, widespread demonstrations are underway, reflecting the ongoing fervor of the protesters.
In London, local marches were scheduled in areas such as Camden, Hackney, Harrow, and Ealing, with a notable protest outside the office of Labour leader Keir Starmer in Camden. Critics have accused Starmer of failing to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, leading to increased dissatisfaction among campaigners.
Chanting anti-Israel slogans and brandishing Palestinian flags and signs with messages like "Stop bombing Gaza," "Freedom for Palestine," and "Ceasefire now," protesters aim to draw attention to the urgency of the situation. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in a statement, underlined the necessity of demanding an immediate ceasefire and ending British complicity in Israel's atrocities.
During a speech in Camden, Sabby Sagall, president of the Camden Palestine Solidarity Campaign, highlighted Israel's intensified attacks on Gaza and praised the International Criminal Court's application against Israel. Sagall expressed support for the Palestinian people, emphasizing Israel's decades-long history of terrorizing them.
Deputy President of the Stop the War Coalition, Andrew Murray, stressed the imperative need to end political support in the UK for what he labeled Israeli "genocide" in Gaza. Murray criticized the British and American governments for ignoring and even supporting the ongoing crisis.
Retired doctor Jonathan Flaxman, providing insights into the health sector in Gaza and Palestine, revealed the dire state of hospitals and the intentional targeting of healthcare workers. The Organise Corbyn Inspired Socialist Alliance has initiated efforts to field an independent candidate against Starmer in the next election, citing outrage over his failure to call for a ceasefire.
Simultaneously, a solidarity demonstration with Palestine unfolded in Berlin, where nearly 1,500 protesters gathered to convey messages of support and denounce Israel's attacks on Gaza. Chants such as "Israel is a terror state" and "Stop the war" resonated through the streets as protesters held banners with messages urging an end to the occupation and condemning Germany's financial support for Israeli aggressions.
