Massive London March Urges New UK Government to Support Palestine

7 July 2024

This past Saturday, central London was abuzz as a vast throng of demonstrators gathered, calling on the newly formed British government to take decisive action in support of Palestine. The protesters, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, were united in their call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a cessation of British arms exports to Israel.

The rally, orchestrated by a coalition of British organisations including the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), the Stop the War Coalition (StWC), Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), highlighted the pressing need for urgent governmental intervention.

Jeremy Corbyn, the freshly re-elected MP, addressed the crowd with a poignant plea for solidarity and immediate political backing for Palestinian rights. “Today’s demonstration is a powerful testament to the unwavering support for Palestine within the UK,” Zaher Birawi, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, declared. He urged the government to respond to its citizens’ calls by taking substantial measures to end the violence and halt military support to Israel.

Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a prominent British-Palestinian surgeon, reported on the severe medical crisis in Gaza, calling for an end to the conflict and for urgent humanitarian relief.

Leanne Mohammad, an activist renowned for her community engagement, inspired the gathering with her appeal for unity and continued advocacy. Celebrated author Kamila Shamsie also spoke, emphasizing the importance of global solidarity and collective action in addressing the plight of Palestinians.

The recent appointment of David Lammy as Foreign Secretary has raised numerous questions about his forthcoming policies. Participants are keenly awaiting his views on discontinuing UK arms shipments to Israel and his planned approach to reinstating UK funding for UNRWA.

His stance on the UK’s involvement at the International Court of Justice in support of Israel, and his commitment to upholding international law, are also of great interest.

The event was not just a protest but a platform for recognising the political strides made by Palestinian candidates in the recent elections, as noted by the Palestinian Forum in Britain. The forum lauded the candidates, particularly Leanne Mohammad, Sameh Habeeb, and Kamal Hawash, for their bravery and unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause.

The march not only underscored the critical issues facing Palestine but also reinforced the deep-rooted solidarity within the UK for the Palestinian cause, sending a strong message to the government: the time for action is now.

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