Thousands rally against Gaza strikes in London, Paris, Dublin, Tel Aviv
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have marched across London to protest Israel's Operation Protective Edge, carrying signs reading “Gaza: End the siege.” Rallies also took place in France, Ireland and Israel as the Palestinian death toll surpassed 1,000.
Metropolitan Police placed the number of participants in London
at around 45,000, The Independent reported. The demonstration,
which began near High Street Kensington, passed the Israeli
Embassy and eventually reached Parliament Square. Participants
chanted, “Long live Gaza; long live Palestine” as they
marched.
Several high profile speakers addressed the crowd, including
Labour MP Diane Abbot, who said the participants were there to
show solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Just spoke at #GazaUnderAttack rally. Stop the killing, lift the blockade & end the occupation @PSCupdatespic.twitter.com/xbTIKEpGXi
— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) July 26, 2014
Saturday’s march occurred in the context of a 12-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began at 8 a.m. local time. Israel said that while it would adhere to the ceasefire, it would also continue to look for tunnels potentially used by Hamas militants.
Over 100 bodies were recovered from the rubble in Gaza on Saturday, many of which were partially decomposed, Palestinian health official Ashraf al-Kidra said.
London becomes part of #Gazapic.twitter.com/NtoSKyBnog
— Anas Altikriti (@anasaltikriti) July 26, 2014
Israel launched a major air campaign in Gaza on July 8 and later
sent ground troops into Hamas-ruled territory.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Operation
Protective Edge is aimed at halting Palestinian rocket fire and
destroying Hamas’ cross-border tunnels. The conflict has been
ongoing for 19 days, with Israel’s Iron Dome intercepting the
majority of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.
In addition to the loss of Palestinian lives, at least 40 Israeli
army soldiers have been killed.
During Saturday's protest, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC)
chairman Hugh Lanning accused Israel of violating international
law and lambasting UK arms deals with the country.
"Our [British] aid and arms are helping to kill these
innocent people in Gaza,” he said. Last year, Britain sold
some $10.7 million worth of arms to Israel.
Other cities across the UK also staged protests on Saturday –
including Oxford, Cardiff, and Edinburgh. A similar, smaller
protest marched on Downing Street a week ago, with less than half
the number of protesters taking part.
Paris rally takes place despite ban, dozens arrested
Hundreds of demonstrators also took to the streets of Paris on
Saturday, clashing with police after a ban imposed by French
authorities was defied.
Police said that 50 people were arrested over the course of the
day. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that
organizers would be held responsible. He stressed that only five
out of approximately 300 protests in the country had been banned,
and that prohibiting the mass action was the exception rather
than the rule.
The protest had been banned due to police fears over the security
of the march route, France 24 reported. A rally on July 22
finished with hundreds of protesters looting shops, burning cars
and attacking a synagogue. However, one of its organizers said
the decision was political.
A Reuters photographer witnessed one Israeli flag being burnt,
according to the agency. However, organizers denied accusations
of anti-Semitism.
Seven foreign ministers met in Paris on Saturday and called for
an extension of the ceasefire. France issued a joint statement
with the US, Britain, Germany, Italy, Qatar, and Turkey, as well
as the EU's deputy foreign minister.
Meanwhile, some 2,000 people were permitted to march peacefully
in Marseilles.
Demonstrations in Ireland, Israel and Canada
Thousands also turned up in Dublin, with Palestinian and Irish speakers addressing the crowd from a makeshift stage near the Israeli embassy.
Huge turn out today at the #Dublin march for #Gaza#ISupportGazapic.twitter.com/zWrzhvebe1
— Dara de Brún (@DaraDeBrun) July 26, 2014
Tel Aviv was also home to thousands of anti-war protesters on Saturday. The demonstrators carried signs bearing slogans such as “bury the rifles, not the children.”
Anti war protest in Tel Aviv getting huge. Smaller pro war rally in distance. Riot police everywhere. pic.twitter.com/RiUAXJdent
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) July 26, 2014
Canada's Toronto saw two protests running simultaneously: to support Israel and against its operation in Gaza. Hundreds of people came to both rallies and as the two met - divided by a police cordon - tensions spiked with insults flying.
Protests demanding an end to Israel's operation in Gaza have been gripping the world for over a week. Thousands have also been taking part in demonstrations in the West Bank, since Hamas leaders called on Ramallah to come out for its cause. Rallies there have been ongoing for two nights, with Israel using “riot dispersal means” to break them up. Six people have been killed since the night demonstrations began, medics and witnesses told the Guardian on Friday.
