ALMOST 60 protests in support of Palestine took place across Britain at the weekend as activists prepared for a global day of action today demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

From Aberdeen to Abergavenny, Birmingham to Bristol and Carlisle to Coventry protesters on Saturday and Sunday marched, rallied and mounted vigils.

Targets included branches of Barclays bank over its financial involvement in firms arming Israel and the constituency offices of MPs who voted against a ceasefire.

The protests kept a spotlight on Israel’s murderous Gaza assault where the death toll reached more than 18,000, more than half of them children.

Eight-five per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been forced into shrinking “safe” areas of southern Gaza, creating a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Public outcry over the IDF’s killing of three Israeli hostages who exited Hamas captivity in Gaza on Friday also continued at the weekend.

At a protest outside the house of Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely in London, one man told the crowd: “It’s clear what these hostages were doing that rendered them a threat from the IDF, presumably something like being men who were unarmed in north Gaza, maybe running — that’s all it takes to be murdered by the IDF.”

Another said: “What we object to is that she is calling for genocide.”

Campaigners in more than 90 countries are expected to take to the streets today in a global day of action for a ceasefire.

The events are being organised by humanitarian and human rights organisations.

One group taking part, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, said: “Amidst an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a ceasefire is urgently needed to end further loss of life and ensure sufficient aid reaches those in dire need.”

More than one million people have signed an international petition run by online campaign group Avaaz calling on US President Joe Biden and government leaders to support a ceasefire.

It states: “Dear President Biden and global leaders. How many more children must die before you support the global call for a ceasefire? How many are enough?

“As people from across the world, we call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the blockade in Gaza.

“Stop raining death on innocent people. Ceasefire now!”