Protesters are demanding an end to what they say is complicity in Israel’s war crimes against the Palestinians by the UK and other G7 governments [Photo: AFP]
London, June 12 (RHC)-- Thousands took part in a pro-Palestine solidarity march in London, calling on the Group of Seven (G-7) leaders currently meeting in southwest England to support Palestinian rights.
As part of the “Resist G-7: Day of Action for International Justice” rally, demonstrators on Saturday marched towards Prime Minister Borris Johnson’s official residence in Downing Street, chanting and holding placards to protest Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The protesters demanded an end to what they said is complicity in Israel’s war crimes against the Palestinians by the United Kingdom and other G-7 governments.
Former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn attended the march and addressed the crowd. “At today’s Justice For Palestine demonstration in London, I also called for a halt to arms sales,” Corbyn wrote on Twitter. “UK-made weapons are killing civilians – including children – in conflicts abroad. This must stop,” he said.
The rally came as the informal club of seven leading economies -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States -- were meeting in Cornwall face-to-face for the first time in two years to tackle the global health crisis and climate change.
At the march, Raghad al-Takriti, president of the Muslim Association of Britain, said the message to the G-7 leaders is “clear.” “It is to uphold international law. It is adherence to international law." And she added: “It’s time for these leaders to talk about enforcement, to end the siege on Gaza … and to stop their complicity, their arms deals with Israel,” she said.
Among the groups taking part were Friends of Al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which estimated that some 8,000 people showed up outside Downing Street demanding justice for Palestinians.
In a statement, PSC said: “All governments have an obligation to end their complicity and help dismantle apartheid. Instead of aiding and abetting Israel’s racist rule over the Palestinian people, the G7 must end all military-security cooperation with Israel, and employ targeted sanctions until Israel complies with international law.”
The protest was the latest in a series of pro-Palestine rallies which have taken place in London since tensions escalated in occupied East Jerusalem over Israel’s planned forced displacement of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah, attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and Israel’s military assault on Gaza.
In recent weeks, hundreds of Palestinians have been arrested in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory for protesting Israel’s policies. Dozens have been wounded in confrontations with armed Israeli police.
