Image Courtesy:dailysabah.com
On May 22, thousands of people marched in a peaceful pro-Palestinian rally in Central London. They put on record a people’s protest against Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, that according to the organisers is perhaps the biggest one on the issue seen in recent times in the United Kingdom. Israel and Hamas reached a cease-fire deal, with Egypt mediation, that came into effect on Friday.
According to a report in the portal Commondreams, the rally was carried out by nearly 2,00,000 people on Saturday in London. The organisers said it “was one of the largest demonstrations of solidarity with Palestinians in the United Kingdom’s history.” The march was orgnaised by groups including Stop The War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and the Muslim Association of Britain, stated the report.
Nearly 200,000 people out in London – by some reports the largest pro-Palestine demonstration in this country’s history.
Well done to everyone who showed we won’t stand by while war crimes are committed using British weapons. #UK4Palestine #FreePalestine #StopArmingIsrael pic.twitter.com/PJDqFw2yz0
— CND (@CNDuk) May 22, 2021
The rally had been planned “before Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire that began on Friday after an 11-day bombing campaign targeting the Gaza Strip,” stated the report. The 11 day attacks killed over 230 Palestinians including dozens of children, and rocket attacks launched by Hamas killed 12 Israelis, according to authorities.
The organasiers groups went ahead with the demonstration despite the ceasefire – which was brokered by diplomats from Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations – noting that “Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem continue to face a brutal military occupation, including restrictions on movement, home demolitions, and the enforcement of military law on the civilian population,” stated the organisers, adding that, “Palestinian citizens of Israel are still subject to over 65 laws that discriminate against them and render them second class citizens, and Palestinians in exile are still denied their right to return home.”
We refuse to accept the status quo.
The status quo of occupation and apartheid is itself a daily act of violence by the Israeli government on the Palestinian people. #FreePalestine #UK4PALESTINE pic.twitter.com/MpyrsiaFbS
— Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) (@MABOnline1) May 22, 2021
Participants marched from Victoria Embankment to Hyde Park, chanting slogans including “Free Palestine!” and “No Justice, No Peace!” stated the reports adding that chants of “Boris Johnson, shame on you!” were also heard “as the demonstrators demanded the U.K. end its complicity in Israel’s violent policies.”
According to news reports, speakers including former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell were among those who addressed the huge crowd at Hyde Park. He said, “Yes, a ceasefire has been negotiated and we welcome a ceasefire. But let’s be clear, there will be no ceasefire in our campaign to boycott, disinvest, and sanction the Israeli apartheid state. The message is clear, we will not cease our campaign in solidarity until there is justice. So let’s make it clear, no justice, no peace.”
The rally organisers told media-persons, “Israel’s system of apartheid and ethnic cleansing cannot continue. We can’t stop just because Israel has temporarily stopped bombing Gaza. We must campaign and protest until the Palestinian people enjoy what is their birth right: freedom, justice and equality in their historic homeland.”
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