UPDATED
Palestine protesters march through London en masse as TENS OF THOUSANDS demand end to Yemen air strikes
Palestine protesters are marching to Parliament Square
GB NEWS/ PA
By Dan Falvey
Published: 13/01/2024 -
The Met Police has deployed hundreds of officers in order to try and ensure that there is no trouble at the march
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters have gathered in London to take part in a mass march through the capital.
The event, which comes just days after the UK and US carried out airstrikes against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, started at around midday on Queen Victoria Street and is set to end in Parliament Square.
Protesters were seen filing past St Paul’s, with one man holding a placard claiming Yemen “supports Palestine”.
The placard read: “UK + US wants war. Yemen supports Palestine. Gaza wants to live.”
MET POLICE
The Met Police has deployed hundreds of officers in order to try and ensure that there is no trouble at the march.
Warnings have been issued that any placards deemed to be antisemitic will be confiscated and activists potentially arrested.
"Around 1,700 officers will be on duty to police the march on Saturday, including many from forces outside London," the Met said in a statement on Friday.
"Officers are there to ensure the events take place safely and peacefully, that disruption to other members of the public is kept to a minimum and that any offences are seen and dealt with."
Protesters have been warned they must stick to an agreed route
It added: "The majority of protests and other events held in recent months have taken place without any notable disorder, with most people attending to express their views in a lawful and peaceful way.
"Regrettably not everyone has acted responsibly and we have seen multiple arrests at a number of protests.
"In particular, there have been repeated examples of placards, banners and other items being carried or worn, or statements being chanted, that have crossed the line into religiously or racially aggravated offences.
"Some have even been so serious as to be dealt with under the Terrorism Act.
"The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command has launched around 30 investigations into suspected offending at protests since 7 October, the majority of which relate to potential terrorism offences. Officers will be working again this weekend to identify any further offences."
A set route for the march has been set out by police with those participating in the march warned not to deviate from the agreed path. A strict 5pm curfew has also been set.
Pro-Palestine marches held in France, Italy, Ireland
TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (MNA) – Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators rallied in cities across Europe to show their support for the Palestinians amid the brutal Israeli military onslaught on the Gaza Strip.
Simultaneous pro-Palestine marches were held on Saturday in Paris, Rome, Milan, and Dublin as well as in London, Amsterdam, and Washington.
Demonstrators in the Irish capital of Dublin waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans "Free Palestine" while criticizing Western governments for their support for the Israeli regime's aggression on Gaza.
Hundreds of demonstrators also gathered in Rome, the capital of Italy, calling for a stop to the genocide being committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza.
The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s atrocities against Palestinians.
Since the start of the aggression, Israel has killed more than 23,843 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Nearly 60,317 Palestinians have also been wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The Tel Aviv regime has also imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.
MP/IRN
Israel's relentless attacks on Gaza protested in Athens
Hundreds of people from left-wing student organizations, trade unions, and political parties condemn Israeli attacks, demanding Palestine's right to live in freedom
13/01/2024 Saturday
AA
Israel's relentless attacks on Gaza, which have continued since Oct. 7 of last year, as well as NATO, EU, and US policies regarding the plight of Palestinians, were protested on Saturday noon in the Greek capital city of Athens.
The rally was organized by the Palestinian Community of Greece and Stop the War-Alliance with Palestine, and it was attended by hundreds of people from left-wing student organizations, trade unions, and political parties who carried Palestinian flags and banners condemning Israeli attacks and demanding Palestine's right to live in freedom.
The protestors also chanted slogans condemning Israel's indiscriminate bombing of Gaza and the West's failure to acknowledge Israel's war crimes in the enclave and the West Bank.
At a separate rally in the northern port city of Thessaloniki organized by the Thessaloniki Committee for International Recession and Peace, hundreds of people protested the use of the port by US, German, and British military ships, as well as Western policies on the Israeli-Palestine conflict, the Greek Communist Party's (KKE) media platform reported.
“People's killers are not welcome,” and “Thessaloniki is a port of the people, and not a stronghold of the imperialists,” they chanted during the anti-Israel rally.
The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli army's ongoing attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7 has risen to 23,843, with 60,317 injured, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Saturday.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Authorities claim the attacks by Hamas have killed around 1,200 Israelis.
The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave's infrastructure damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicines.
AA
Israel's relentless attacks on Gaza, which have continued since Oct. 7 of last year, as well as NATO, EU, and US policies regarding the plight of Palestinians, were protested on Saturday noon in the Greek capital city of Athens.
The rally was organized by the Palestinian Community of Greece and Stop the War-Alliance with Palestine, and it was attended by hundreds of people from left-wing student organizations, trade unions, and political parties who carried Palestinian flags and banners condemning Israeli attacks and demanding Palestine's right to live in freedom.
The protestors also chanted slogans condemning Israel's indiscriminate bombing of Gaza and the West's failure to acknowledge Israel's war crimes in the enclave and the West Bank.
At a separate rally in the northern port city of Thessaloniki organized by the Thessaloniki Committee for International Recession and Peace, hundreds of people protested the use of the port by US, German, and British military ships, as well as Western policies on the Israeli-Palestine conflict, the Greek Communist Party's (KKE) media platform reported.
“People's killers are not welcome,” and “Thessaloniki is a port of the people, and not a stronghold of the imperialists,” they chanted during the anti-Israel rally.
The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli army's ongoing attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7 has risen to 23,843, with 60,317 injured, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Saturday.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Authorities claim the attacks by Hamas have killed around 1,200 Israelis.
The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave's infrastructure damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicines.
Activists protest at British base in Cyprus used in Yemen strikes
Reuters
Sun, January 14, 2024
Protest at gates of RAF Akrotiri, British base on Cyprus used to launch strikes against Houthi militia in Yemen, near Limassol
AKROTIRI, Cyprus (Reuters) - Pro-Palestinian activists protested at the gates of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Sunday, angry that the British base was used as a launch pad for strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen.
U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen overnight Thursday to Friday in retaliation for attacks on Red Sea shipping that the Iran-backed group says is a response to the war in Gaza.
RAF Akrotiri was used as a staging point for Typhoon fighter jets involved in the operation.
Several hundred protesters chanted "Out with the Bases of Death" at the entrance to RAF Akrotiri, one of two bases Britain retains in Cyprus, a former colony.
The iron gates to the heavily-guarded compound, which sits on a peninsula on Cyprus's southernmost tip, were locked with dozens of police present.
"We are here because we condemn the complicity of the UK government and using Cypriot land for their agenda to support Israel in their onslaught of Gaza," said Natalia Olivia of the Cyprus-based United for Palestine organisation.
Another activist, Nicos Panayiotou, called the use of the British bases a disgrace. "They are using Cypriot land to do something every Cypriot is condemning," he said.
Britain is not obliged to seek permission from Cyprus for operations out of Akrotiri under the terms of the bases' presence on the island.
The strikes have added to concerns that the Israel-Gaza war could spread through the Middle East, with Iran's allies also entering the fray from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
Sunday's demonstration was organised before Akrotiri was used for the strikes on Yemen amid perceptions - denied by Britain - that the base is being used to offer logistical support to Israel.
In response to the protests, a British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "British Forces Cyprus continue to support the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and no RAF flights into Israel have transported any lethal cargo."
(Reporting By Michele Kambas; editing by Christina Fincher)
Hundreds of peace protesters rally outside British base in Cyprus
AFP
Sun, January 14, 2024
Peace protesters rally outside the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base near the Cypriot coastal city of Limassol (Iakovos Hatzistavrou)
About 300 peace protesters rallied on Sunday outside Britain's Akrotiri military base in Cyprus, charging it is fuelling regional conflicts in Gaza and Yemen.
The demonstrators demanded the closure of military bases that have been under British control since the eastern Mediterranean island nation's independence in 1960.
They carried a banner demanding a "Ceasefire Now" in the Israel-Hamas war raging in the Palestinian territory since October 7 while another read "Stop funding genocide".
Some online reports in Britain have pointed to UK and US military flights from Akrotiri to Tel Aviv and charged they were carrying military supplies for Israel.
A British defence ministry spokesperson told AFP that "British Forces Cyprus continue to support the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and no RAF flights into Israel have transported any lethal cargo".
The spokesperson also said that a British naval vessel "with the support of British Forces Cyprus, delivered 87 tonnes of UK and Cypriot aid to Egypt for the people of Gaza".
Police stood between the protesters and the gates of the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base, a British overseas territory near the southern coastal city of Limassol.
The head of the Cyprus Peace Council, Tasos Kosteas said at the demonstration: "Cyprus is a living example that military bases do not solve problems, do not provide stability and security, but intensify militarisation and perpetuate tension."
The march was organised by the Cyprus Peace Council and supported by the leftist opposition party AKEL, the group United For Palestine and other leftist groups.
A United For Palestine activist, Leandros Fischer, a professor from Limassol, said the base was also used in recent US and British bombing of Yemen's Huthi rebels, after the Iran-backed group had attacked ships in the Red Sea.
Fischer said that protesters also voiced "opposition to the very presence of British bases on Cyprus' soil" and that they make the island "a potential target".
Vera Polycarpou, AKEL's head of international relations, said "we're demonstrating against the uses of the bases against the peoples of the region, against the bases' presence in Cyprus. We want them to be dismantled."
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented attack of October 7 on southern Israel, which resulted in about 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel in response vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a relentless military campaign that the Gaza health ministry says has killed nearly 24,000 people, most of them women and children.
sk-anr/fz
Reuters
Sun, January 14, 2024
Protest at gates of RAF Akrotiri, British base on Cyprus used to launch strikes against Houthi militia in Yemen, near Limassol
AKROTIRI, Cyprus (Reuters) - Pro-Palestinian activists protested at the gates of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Sunday, angry that the British base was used as a launch pad for strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen.
U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen overnight Thursday to Friday in retaliation for attacks on Red Sea shipping that the Iran-backed group says is a response to the war in Gaza.
RAF Akrotiri was used as a staging point for Typhoon fighter jets involved in the operation.
Several hundred protesters chanted "Out with the Bases of Death" at the entrance to RAF Akrotiri, one of two bases Britain retains in Cyprus, a former colony.
The iron gates to the heavily-guarded compound, which sits on a peninsula on Cyprus's southernmost tip, were locked with dozens of police present.
"We are here because we condemn the complicity of the UK government and using Cypriot land for their agenda to support Israel in their onslaught of Gaza," said Natalia Olivia of the Cyprus-based United for Palestine organisation.
Another activist, Nicos Panayiotou, called the use of the British bases a disgrace. "They are using Cypriot land to do something every Cypriot is condemning," he said.
Britain is not obliged to seek permission from Cyprus for operations out of Akrotiri under the terms of the bases' presence on the island.
The strikes have added to concerns that the Israel-Gaza war could spread through the Middle East, with Iran's allies also entering the fray from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
Sunday's demonstration was organised before Akrotiri was used for the strikes on Yemen amid perceptions - denied by Britain - that the base is being used to offer logistical support to Israel.
In response to the protests, a British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "British Forces Cyprus continue to support the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and no RAF flights into Israel have transported any lethal cargo."
(Reporting By Michele Kambas; editing by Christina Fincher)
Hundreds of peace protesters rally outside British base in Cyprus
AFP
Sun, January 14, 2024
Peace protesters rally outside the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base near the Cypriot coastal city of Limassol (Iakovos Hatzistavrou)
About 300 peace protesters rallied on Sunday outside Britain's Akrotiri military base in Cyprus, charging it is fuelling regional conflicts in Gaza and Yemen.
The demonstrators demanded the closure of military bases that have been under British control since the eastern Mediterranean island nation's independence in 1960.
They carried a banner demanding a "Ceasefire Now" in the Israel-Hamas war raging in the Palestinian territory since October 7 while another read "Stop funding genocide".
Some online reports in Britain have pointed to UK and US military flights from Akrotiri to Tel Aviv and charged they were carrying military supplies for Israel.
A British defence ministry spokesperson told AFP that "British Forces Cyprus continue to support the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and no RAF flights into Israel have transported any lethal cargo".
The spokesperson also said that a British naval vessel "with the support of British Forces Cyprus, delivered 87 tonnes of UK and Cypriot aid to Egypt for the people of Gaza".
Police stood between the protesters and the gates of the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base, a British overseas territory near the southern coastal city of Limassol.
The head of the Cyprus Peace Council, Tasos Kosteas said at the demonstration: "Cyprus is a living example that military bases do not solve problems, do not provide stability and security, but intensify militarisation and perpetuate tension."
The march was organised by the Cyprus Peace Council and supported by the leftist opposition party AKEL, the group United For Palestine and other leftist groups.
A United For Palestine activist, Leandros Fischer, a professor from Limassol, said the base was also used in recent US and British bombing of Yemen's Huthi rebels, after the Iran-backed group had attacked ships in the Red Sea.
Fischer said that protesters also voiced "opposition to the very presence of British bases on Cyprus' soil" and that they make the island "a potential target".
Vera Polycarpou, AKEL's head of international relations, said "we're demonstrating against the uses of the bases against the peoples of the region, against the bases' presence in Cyprus. We want them to be dismantled."
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented attack of October 7 on southern Israel, which resulted in about 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel in response vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a relentless military campaign that the Gaza health ministry says has killed nearly 24,000 people, most of them women and children.
sk-anr/fz
Community members began pounding drums and chanting hours before sunrise
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Port of Oakland by 5 a.m. Saturday, opposing the United States’ continued military aid to Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.
By KATIE LAUER | klauer@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
By KATIE LAUER | klauer@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
UPDATED: January 14, 2024
OAKLAND — Rain did not dissuade scores of protesters from gathering at the Port of Oakland by 5 a.m. Saturday, opposing the United States’ continued military aid in Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.
Several hours before sunrise, hundreds of community members began pounding drums and chanting near Middle Harbor Shoreline Park and Seventh Street to disrupt port operations.
The demonstration, organized by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, successfully shut down the first shift of longshoremen scheduled for work Saturday, according to Wassim Hage, an AROC spokesperson.
The crowd dispersed by late morning, but Hage said protesters vowed to return to the port by 2 p.m. “to shut down any business as usual for the afternoon shift.”
Organizers said they believed a ship carrying military supplies was set to arrive at the port, though that claim could not be immediately verified. In November, a similar protest at the Port of Oakland targeted the Cape Orlando vessel, a ship with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, authorities said.
Hage said a shuttle was made available for any protesters who arrived at the West Oakland BART station for Saturday’s afternoon protest, which also coincided with a global day of action against the longest and deadliest war between Israel and Palestinians in 75 years. The group has also called for a ceasefire.
Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day this weekend, AROC said the action was also a way to “honor and uphold (his) radical legacy … and his internationalist vision for human rights, racial justice, and an end to war and exploitation across the world.”
The move comes more than three months after Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7 left roughly 1,200 people dead across southern Israel. Since then, the death toll from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has eclipsed 23,000 people, which is roughly 1% of the Palestinian territory’s population. Experts say the Israeli bombing is among the most intense in modern history.
OAKLAND — Rain did not dissuade scores of protesters from gathering at the Port of Oakland by 5 a.m. Saturday, opposing the United States’ continued military aid in Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.
Several hours before sunrise, hundreds of community members began pounding drums and chanting near Middle Harbor Shoreline Park and Seventh Street to disrupt port operations.
The demonstration, organized by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, successfully shut down the first shift of longshoremen scheduled for work Saturday, according to Wassim Hage, an AROC spokesperson.
The crowd dispersed by late morning, but Hage said protesters vowed to return to the port by 2 p.m. “to shut down any business as usual for the afternoon shift.”
Organizers said they believed a ship carrying military supplies was set to arrive at the port, though that claim could not be immediately verified. In November, a similar protest at the Port of Oakland targeted the Cape Orlando vessel, a ship with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, authorities said.
Hage said a shuttle was made available for any protesters who arrived at the West Oakland BART station for Saturday’s afternoon protest, which also coincided with a global day of action against the longest and deadliest war between Israel and Palestinians in 75 years. The group has also called for a ceasefire.
Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day this weekend, AROC said the action was also a way to “honor and uphold (his) radical legacy … and his internationalist vision for human rights, racial justice, and an end to war and exploitation across the world.”
The move comes more than three months after Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7 left roughly 1,200 people dead across southern Israel. Since then, the death toll from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has eclipsed 23,000 people, which is roughly 1% of the Palestinian territory’s population. Experts say the Israeli bombing is among the most intense in modern history.
Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, said Saturday’s protest aimed to disrupt business at the port, which generates around $12 million in revenue daily.
“This is nearly the same amount of money that the US sends to Israel per day in economic and military aid,” Kiswani said in a statement. “The Oakland port has facilitated the transport of weapons, military equipment, and technology that fuel the Israeli genocide of Palestinians. As long as the US enables this war with our tax dollars and through our port, there can be no business as usual.”
Roberto Bernardo, a spokesperson for the Port of Oakland, could not confirm Saturday afternoon if the same ship from the November protest was at the port this weekend. However, he said that officials continue to work with their maritime partners to “ensure safety and security, which is paramount for the Port of Oakland.”
“For us, the most important thing is that no one gets hurt,” Bernardo said Saturday afternoon.
While it’s unclear if the AROC protest specifically aimed to stop specific vessels from leaving the Port of Oakland, Bernardo said delayed ships may simply opt to dock in another city that is more accessible — potentially affecting the livelihoods of nearly 100,000 local jobs.
“What’s important is how these types of disruptions impact all of us,” Bernardo said, explaining how the entire Bay Area community would feel the repercussions of delayed shipments of goods such as medical supplies, food products and auto manufacturing parts. “We do a disservice to ourselves when we give our business to someone else.”
“This is nearly the same amount of money that the US sends to Israel per day in economic and military aid,” Kiswani said in a statement. “The Oakland port has facilitated the transport of weapons, military equipment, and technology that fuel the Israeli genocide of Palestinians. As long as the US enables this war with our tax dollars and through our port, there can be no business as usual.”
Roberto Bernardo, a spokesperson for the Port of Oakland, could not confirm Saturday afternoon if the same ship from the November protest was at the port this weekend. However, he said that officials continue to work with their maritime partners to “ensure safety and security, which is paramount for the Port of Oakland.”
“For us, the most important thing is that no one gets hurt,” Bernardo said Saturday afternoon.
While it’s unclear if the AROC protest specifically aimed to stop specific vessels from leaving the Port of Oakland, Bernardo said delayed ships may simply opt to dock in another city that is more accessible — potentially affecting the livelihoods of nearly 100,000 local jobs.
“What’s important is how these types of disruptions impact all of us,” Bernardo said, explaining how the entire Bay Area community would feel the repercussions of delayed shipments of goods such as medical supplies, food products and auto manufacturing parts. “We do a disservice to ourselves when we give our business to someone else.”
Pro-Palestine protesters rally in Washington, London; demand Israel war ceasefire
Pro-Palestine protesters in Washington, London, and other locations rallied for a global day of action. Demonstrators expressed solidarity, calling for an end to the conflict and condemning alleged war crimes.
A person wearing a mask depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a doll as people take part in a protest in London, UK, to mark 100 days since the start of the war on Gaza (Reuters)
Agence France-Presse
Washington,
Pro-Palestine protesters in Washington, London, and other locations rallied for a global day of action. Demonstrators expressed solidarity, calling for an end to the conflict and condemning alleged war crimes.
A person wearing a mask depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a doll as people take part in a protest in London, UK, to mark 100 days since the start of the war on Gaza (Reuters)
Agence France-Presse
Washington,
Jan 14, 2024
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched in Washington, London and elsewhere on Saturday as part of a "global day of action" to demand an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza fighting and to oppose US and British support for Israel.
In Washington, large crowds waved Palestinian flags as the mostly young protesters -- many wearing the traditional keffiyeh -- gathered in a show of solidarity on the 99th day of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
"Cease-fire now," people chanted, while carrying banners and posters that read "Free Palestine" and "End the War on Gaza."
On a stage a few blocks from the White House, several Palestinian-Americans -- originally from Gaza, but now living in US states from Michigan to Texas -- offered emotional accounts of friends and relatives killed or wounded in Gaza.
They exhorted US President Joe Biden to end military and financial support for Israel.We'd like two minutes of your time in order to understand you better. Please take this reader survey.
"President Biden can easily stop this madness" by pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, one speaker said to wide applause.
London, meantime, saw its seventh pro-Palestinian demonstration since October 7, when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel and killed around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a relentless bombardment of Gaza that has killed at least 23,843 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from the territory's health ministry.
Around 1,700 police were on duty Saturday to ensure security for the London protest.
"We want to show the people of Palestine we are with them, and to speak up against our government as well," 27-year-old health service worker Maleeha Ahmed, who was at the march with her family, told AFP.
"They are playing a very, very big role in allowing Israel to continue what they are doing and it's just not acceptable," she said.
Another marcher, Dipesh Kothar, 37, said it was "very frustrating to sit and watch the world do nothing."
"That's why we come out to show support for the Palestinian people and show our unhappiness with the governments around the world," he said.
Saturday's marches held particular significance given US and British air strikes in Yemen this week against Huthi bases, after the Iran-backed militants attacked ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza.
The day of action, called by a British organising coalition, involved protests in 30 countries.
Kate Hudson of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which is part of the coalition, said the event was "to demand a permanent cease-fire and a lasting political settlement for all Palestinians."
She said the British government "must end its support for Israel's brutal war in Gaza, and join the wider international community in condemning its war crimes."
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched in Washington, London and elsewhere on Saturday as part of a "global day of action" to demand an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza fighting and to oppose US and British support for Israel.
In Washington, large crowds waved Palestinian flags as the mostly young protesters -- many wearing the traditional keffiyeh -- gathered in a show of solidarity on the 99th day of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
"Cease-fire now," people chanted, while carrying banners and posters that read "Free Palestine" and "End the War on Gaza."
On a stage a few blocks from the White House, several Palestinian-Americans -- originally from Gaza, but now living in US states from Michigan to Texas -- offered emotional accounts of friends and relatives killed or wounded in Gaza.
They exhorted US President Joe Biden to end military and financial support for Israel.We'd like two minutes of your time in order to understand you better. Please take this reader survey.
"President Biden can easily stop this madness" by pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, one speaker said to wide applause.
London, meantime, saw its seventh pro-Palestinian demonstration since October 7, when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel and killed around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a relentless bombardment of Gaza that has killed at least 23,843 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from the territory's health ministry.
Around 1,700 police were on duty Saturday to ensure security for the London protest.
"We want to show the people of Palestine we are with them, and to speak up against our government as well," 27-year-old health service worker Maleeha Ahmed, who was at the march with her family, told AFP.
"They are playing a very, very big role in allowing Israel to continue what they are doing and it's just not acceptable," she said.
Another marcher, Dipesh Kothar, 37, said it was "very frustrating to sit and watch the world do nothing."
"That's why we come out to show support for the Palestinian people and show our unhappiness with the governments around the world," he said.
Saturday's marches held particular significance given US and British air strikes in Yemen this week against Huthi bases, after the Iran-backed militants attacked ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza.
The day of action, called by a British organising coalition, involved protests in 30 countries.
Kate Hudson of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which is part of the coalition, said the event was "to demand a permanent cease-fire and a lasting political settlement for all Palestinians."
She said the British government "must end its support for Israel's brutal war in Gaza, and join the wider international community in condemning its war crimes."
Hundreds of thousands attend 7th national march for Palestine in London
January 13, 2024
An aerial view of thousands of people, holding banners and Palestinian flags, stage a demonstration in support of Palestinians, and demanding ceasefire as they march towards Parliament Square in London, United Kingdom on January 13, 2024. [Raşid Necati Aslım – Anadolu Agency]
A pro-Palestine march began on Saturday in the heart of London, marking the seventh demonstration in the British capital since Israel’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip began in early October, Anadolu Agency reports.
Drawing hundreds of thousands of participants, the event was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which has lauded the protests as constituting “one of the largest, sustained political campaigns in British history.”
This demonstration is part of a global day of action, mobilizing for a comprehensive cease-fire in Gaza across 60 cities and over 30 countries.
The groups departed from Bank junction in the City of London at roughly midday, heading via Fleet Street and Victoria Embankment to Parliament Square, where speeches are to take place.
READ: 135 more Palestinians killed as Israel continues onslaught on Gaza: Health Ministry
The PSC, expecting about 250,000 participants in the march, which is the first since the new year began, acknowledged the myriad of developments in the region during this period.
Notably, the march featured the presence of Little Amal, a giant puppet representing a Syrian child refugee, who will join a group of Palestinian children in the procession. The symbolic addition aims to draw attention to the plight of refugees in the region.
Home Secretary James Cleverly, in anticipation of the protest, voiced confidence in the Metropolitan Police’s ability to ensure order and safety during the event.
He endorsed the use of police powers to manage the protest and address any potential criminal activities.
Around 1,700 officers are on duty to police the march on Saturday, including many from forces outside London, with attendees warned that those who intentionally push legal limits on placards and slogans could face arrest.
‘Hands off Yemen’
One thing that sets this march apart from its predecessors, which followed a different route through the city, was the diverse array of flags and banners unfurled throughout the crowd.
Alongside the familiar calls for a free Palestine and cease-fire in Gaza, it featured banners supporting South Africa, which has filed charges of genocide against Israel with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and Yemen, where members of the Houthi group are blocking Israel-affiliated ships from entering the Red Sea.
The rally drew attention to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, with protesters holding banners with the demand, “Hands off Yemen.”
Protesters holding banners with the demand, “Hands off Yemen” in London, United Kingdom on January 13, 2024.
The UK and US, with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted airstrikes Thursday against military targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, following a string of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea that destabilized trading routes.
“We won’t stop until a permanent cease-fire is achieved,” a protestor told Anadolu, asserting that the demonstration was sending a strong message that “the world is waking up to the interconnectedness of our struggles.”
“South Africa’s case against Israel resonates with us, and we’re here to demand justice for all those facing injustice, be it in Gaza, Yemen, or anywhere else,” she added.
South Africa, which filed the case in December, accused Israeli authorities of perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. It requested provisional measures from the court to protect Palestinians, including by calling upon Israel to immediately halt military attacks.
South Africa laid out a list of alleged genocidal acts by Israel on the first day of the hearing Thursday, while Israel defended itself Friday.
Israel has killed more than 23,800 Palestinians in Gaza since an Oct. 7 cross-border offensive by Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The military campaign has also caused mass displacement, destruction, and hunger.
READ: 53% of Israelis believe Tel Aviv did not defeat Hamas, 22% believe army lost war
January 13, 2024
An aerial view of thousands of people, holding banners and Palestinian flags, stage a demonstration in support of Palestinians, and demanding ceasefire as they march towards Parliament Square in London, United Kingdom on January 13, 2024. [Raşid Necati Aslım – Anadolu Agency]
A pro-Palestine march began on Saturday in the heart of London, marking the seventh demonstration in the British capital since Israel’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip began in early October, Anadolu Agency reports.
Drawing hundreds of thousands of participants, the event was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which has lauded the protests as constituting “one of the largest, sustained political campaigns in British history.”
This demonstration is part of a global day of action, mobilizing for a comprehensive cease-fire in Gaza across 60 cities and over 30 countries.
The groups departed from Bank junction in the City of London at roughly midday, heading via Fleet Street and Victoria Embankment to Parliament Square, where speeches are to take place.
READ: 135 more Palestinians killed as Israel continues onslaught on Gaza: Health Ministry
The PSC, expecting about 250,000 participants in the march, which is the first since the new year began, acknowledged the myriad of developments in the region during this period.
Notably, the march featured the presence of Little Amal, a giant puppet representing a Syrian child refugee, who will join a group of Palestinian children in the procession. The symbolic addition aims to draw attention to the plight of refugees in the region.
Home Secretary James Cleverly, in anticipation of the protest, voiced confidence in the Metropolitan Police’s ability to ensure order and safety during the event.
He endorsed the use of police powers to manage the protest and address any potential criminal activities.
Around 1,700 officers are on duty to police the march on Saturday, including many from forces outside London, with attendees warned that those who intentionally push legal limits on placards and slogans could face arrest.
‘Hands off Yemen’
One thing that sets this march apart from its predecessors, which followed a different route through the city, was the diverse array of flags and banners unfurled throughout the crowd.
Alongside the familiar calls for a free Palestine and cease-fire in Gaza, it featured banners supporting South Africa, which has filed charges of genocide against Israel with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and Yemen, where members of the Houthi group are blocking Israel-affiliated ships from entering the Red Sea.
The rally drew attention to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, with protesters holding banners with the demand, “Hands off Yemen.”
Protesters holding banners with the demand, “Hands off Yemen” in London, United Kingdom on January 13, 2024.
The UK and US, with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted airstrikes Thursday against military targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, following a string of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea that destabilized trading routes.
“We won’t stop until a permanent cease-fire is achieved,” a protestor told Anadolu, asserting that the demonstration was sending a strong message that “the world is waking up to the interconnectedness of our struggles.”
“South Africa’s case against Israel resonates with us, and we’re here to demand justice for all those facing injustice, be it in Gaza, Yemen, or anywhere else,” she added.
South Africa, which filed the case in December, accused Israeli authorities of perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. It requested provisional measures from the court to protect Palestinians, including by calling upon Israel to immediately halt military attacks.
South Africa laid out a list of alleged genocidal acts by Israel on the first day of the hearing Thursday, while Israel defended itself Friday.
Israel has killed more than 23,800 Palestinians in Gaza since an Oct. 7 cross-border offensive by Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The military campaign has also caused mass displacement, destruction, and hunger.
READ: 53% of Israelis believe Tel Aviv did not defeat Hamas, 22% believe army lost war
Little Amal stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people at the London march
Little Amal, popular puppet representing a refugee girl, joined the Global Action Day for Gaza in London. The Walk with Amal page announced that they are joining to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Little Amal is known for their advocacy for children around the world to have safe refuge, health education and prosperity.
January 13, 2024
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