LONDON, Saturday, February 3, 2024 (WAFA) – Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters descended today on downtown London demanding an immediate ceasefire that would end the ongoing Israeli genocide campaign in Gaza, now in its 120th day.
An estimated 10,000 demonstrators set off from Portland Place at noon, moving through Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly before gathering in Whitehall for speeches at about 2pm, local and media reports said.
People carried banners which read “end the killing,” accompanied by harrowing images of the bloodshed since the Israeli genocide campaign erupted. Others shouted “free the children”, “freedom to Palestine” and “Boycott Israel”.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) director Ben Jamal said: "The police have now yielded to allow us to march to Whitehall, from where we will send our message to the Government that it must not be complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza by continuing arms exports, military cooperation and diplomatic support."
"This is the eighth National March for Palestine and they have brought hundreds of thousands of people to the streets of London in orderly and peaceful demonstrations," said Jamal, as quoted by the Evening Standard daily newspaper.
He added, "Unfortunately, the policing of the marches has become increasingly politicised and repressive over several months."
"We will not allow the attempts to deter people from marching to stop us nor to distract from us delivering the central message calling for a permanent ceasefire to end the genocide, for an end to occupation and a dismantling of Israel’s system of apartheid."
M.N
