PalestineWorld News

World Shows Outrage At Israel War on Gaza

n00164023-bTens of thousands of angry protests marched against Gaza ground invasion of Gaza strip on Saturday, July 19, demanding “justice and freedom” for Palestine and an end to Israeli war in the tiny besieged strip.

“London has already shown its outrage at Israel’s attacks on the mostly refugee population of Gaza, with people turning out in their thousands last week,” Sarah Colborne, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told London Evening Standard.

“Today’s national demonstration will give people from across the country the chance to say enough is enough, Israel’s siege of Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian land has to end now.

“People want justice and freedom for the Palestinians, and they will be voicing this in their thousands.”

In London, up to 15,000 people marched through the capital from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy in Kensington this afternoon.

Pro Palestine supporters carried placards with the messages “Gaza, stop the massacre” and “stop Israel’s war crimes”.

Labour MP Diane Abbott was among the speakers to address protesters as they gathered in Whitehall.

“I am here to show solidarity with the people in Gaza,” she said.

“We call for an end to the occupation and justice for Palestinians.”

Angry protesters did not march in London only.

From Jakarta, Indonesia to Berlin, Germany, protests have been staged in condemnation of Israel’s offensive on Gaza.

In Johannesburg, numerous traffic jams occurred on Friday as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy trade office, waving Palestinians flags and banners criticizing Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip.

However in Paris, French police banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday after protesters last weekend tried to storm two synagogues in the capital during a similar rally, according to Agence France-Presse news agency.

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Similar protests erupted in Auckland when hundreds gathered at Auckland’s Aotea Square to protest the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza have been urged to shut down the Israeli embassy in New Zealand.

Green MP Kennedy Graham told protesters their purpose was to promote peace. “And there can be no peace without justice,” Graham added, The New Zealand Herald reported on Saturday.

John Minto, speaking on behalf of the Mana movement, said the last few days had been a continuation of 66 years of Palestinian suffering.

“We’re on the side of justice,” another speaker told the crowd.

Waving Palestinian flags and various banners, protesters marched down Queen Street.

“From Auckland to Gaza, support the Intifada,” they chanted, and “we don’t want your bloody war.”

Another pro-Gaza protest in Calgary, Canada turned violent on Friday when a number of pro-Israel supporters showed up, starting confrontations with the peaceful protesters.

Israel has been launching relentless airstrikes against Gaza since July 8 in which hundreds have been killed and injured in the tiny coastal strip.

Israel has claimed that its new war on Gaza, under the title Operation Protect Edge, was a response to the rocket attacks being carried out by Hamas.

The war developed into a ground offensive after Israel poured ground forces into the densely-populated strip of 1.8 million Palestinians on Thursday.
Palestinian officials said military strikes had killed more than 300 people, most of them civilians.

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