(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Thousands of protesters demonstrated outside the Israeli embassy in London on Saturday evening, waving placards and condemning Israel’s attack on Gaza.The protest, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Palestinian Forum in Britain and CND, heard speakers reflecting the diversity and strength of public opinion in support of Palestinian rights.A number of other organisations which support human rights and justice backed the demonstration. There were representatives from Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian students, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Stop the War Coalition, Islamic Human Rights Commission, trade unions and many other organisations.Speakers on the podium condemned the British government after Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Hamas bore "principal responsibility" for the escalation of violence. PSC director Sarah Colborne said demonstrators wanted to show their opposition to the Foreign Office s standpoint."We are insisting that the British Government uphold international law and human rights and tell Israel to end its war now. 39 Palestinians have been killed so far and over 390 have been wounded. Israel’s war on Gaza has to stop," she said."It s very clear what is happening here. Gaza is under siege. Israel started this by assassinating the person who was trying to negotiate a long-term truce with Israel. It s very clear who started this and who is suffering."Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian General Delegate to the UK, told the crowd: What is our crime? It is to want freedom and an end to the occupation, blockade and abuse of our human rights. "When will Israel understand that we are people seeking our freedom and our self-determination?", he asked."The international community is watching the Israelis killing the Palestinians and inflicting so much damage on them and their properties without outright condemnation," he said. Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn said: “Where else would the EU tolerate the imprisonment of elected Parliamentarians? We need to see the end of the EU’s preferential trade agreement with Israel and we need to see an end to the arms trade with Israel. Yet the West are standing idly by whilst civilians are being bombed."Jean Lambert MEP said: “This is nothing to do with security or peace and everything to do with the internal politics of Israel, with their election coming. We need an embargo or arms both going into and coming out of the area."We should invoke the human rights clause of the EU trade agreement with Israel and suspend their preferential status. We need a ceasefire, but this alone is not enough. We need real justice and the recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations," the Green party Member of the European Parliament said.Anas Altikriti, President and founder of the Cordoba Foundation, pointed out how the mass demonstrations against Operation Cast Lead had forced Israel to end its air and ground invasion of Gaza, and that ‘four years on from Israel’s 2008 bombing of Gaza, we’ve made a huge difference.’ He said: "Those who pretend this is a war between two equals are deluded or liars. This is a nuclear power using all its might against what is little more than a refugee camp.""For the very first time we are seeing delegations from neighbouring countries visiting Gaza to offer support. The line of visiting ministers is getting longer and longer, whilst those willing to support Israel are shrinking by the day," he added.Glyn Secker from Jews for Justice for Palestinians received huge applause when he spoke to the crowd – Glyn also acted as captain of the Jewish Boat to Gaza which attempted to break the blockade on Gaza in 2010 and was violently intercepted by Israeli forces.Similar rallies were held in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield, Cardiff and Manchester./129
