Protesters Declare: “We Don’t Trust Starmer; Ceasefire in Gaza is the Only Option”
Hundreds gathered for a protest outside the government headquarters in central London on Saturday, July 13, 2024, following the Labour party’s ascent to power. The demonstrators called urgently for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The rally, spearheaded by the Palestine Forum in Britain (PFB), attracted key figures who support the Palestinian cause, including political candidate Andrew Feinstein and student activist Fiona Lali. Doctors and representatives from various Palestinian solidarity organisations also joined. The protesters assembled in Westminster to honor the approximately 186,000 lives lost in Palestine due to ongoing Israeli aggression, as reported in the latest Lancet study.
“We won’t just wait for Starmer’s promises; we demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza through increased public pressure. I am ready to challenge Braverman again,” declared Fiona Lali, a prominent student activist who has gained recognition from her televised debates with British government officials, during the protest.
In an exclusive interview with Al Al Arabs in UK (AUK), Lali discussed her efforts to intensify student activism to educate more young people about the Palestinian cause. She emphasized that the movement seeks not only a ceasefire, which is crucial, but also an end to the Israeli occupation.
“I distrust Keir Starmer’s recent assurances about seeking a ceasefire in Gaza, remembering his proposals to cut off utilities to Gaza. We can’t trust politicians from the Labour or Conservative parties who justify the Zionist occupation’s crimes. We will pursue justice through popular pressure, and the student movement is a vital part of this effort,” Lali added.
She continued, “I have confronted former Home Secretary Suella Braverman before, and I’m prepared to do so again, especially as she may vie for the leadership of the Conservative Party. While I question her capabilities, I would not shy away from another confrontation to expose her discriminatory views. Meanwhile, I will continue alongside my fellow students to educate this year’s university entrants about the Palestinian cause.”
During the protest, Andrew Feinstein called on Starmer to refrain from mentioning Nelson Mandela, citing Starmer’s previous statements that Mandela was his role model. Feinstein reminded Starmer of Mandela’s words about the link between the freedom of the South African people and that of the Palestinian people. Feinstein had contested against Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency during the recent elections.
The protest, which lasted from 5 pm to 8 pm, drew significant attention from the media and Arab communities. Protesters expressed their solidarity with Gaza and condemned the ongoing crimes by the occupation, including recent atrocities in Mawasi Khan Yunis and Beach Camp, which resulted in the deaths of many civilians, mostly children and women.
Adnan Hmidan, Vice President of the Palestine Forum in Britain, outlined four primary demands: an immediate stop to arms exports to Israel, the reinstatement of funding for UNRWA, the withdrawal of the UK’s reservation on the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to handle complaints against Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, and the formal recognition of the State of Palestine.
Several organisations in solidarity with Gaza have intensified their activities to highlight the extent of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and all occupied territories, particularly following the Labour Party’s victory in the British general elections.
These groups have supported several pro-Palestinian candidates, five of whom have now secured seats in Parliament, aiming to build political pressure to end the ongoing massacres.
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