PALESTINE protests intensified across Britain at the weekend as the death toll in Gaza passed 25,000 and rights groups said 500,000 residents could face famine by February.
They came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alienated even some of Israel’s most slavish supporters in Britain by declaring that Israel would never allow a Palestinian state.
Protests swept across more than 40 towns and cities on Saturday and more followed today.
In Manchester, hundreds rallied in St Peter’s Square demanding “Stop profiting from Gaza” in a message to the Tory government and arms manufacturers operating in Britain.
In Wales, Palestine supporters carried a symbolic shrouded dead body through the town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire and laid it outside the office of local Tory MP Stephen Crabb, chair of the Conservative Friends of Israel group.
Jim Scott of Stop the War Pembrokeshire said: “What kind of world are we living in where we have to make mock-up dead bodies like this for a demonstration?”
Protester Farhana Akhtar said: “Sadly, it is not make-believe in Gaza.
“The only items coming to Gaza in surplus are shrouds, and it’s abhorrent that most of these shrouds are tiny in size as Israel continues its onslaught against children.
“We will not stop. We will be the voice for the voiceless and we will not be deterred!”
In Galashiels in Scotland, a candlelit vigil on Friday by the Borders Palestine Solidarity Group mourned 380 healthcare workers killed in the Gaza genocide. Protesters displayed photos of some of the medics murdered in Israeli attacks.
In West Yorkshire, a three-mile march between the towns of Batley and Dewsbury on Saturday began with 700 people and ended with more than 1,000.
Activist Gary Widdop dressed as a war-zone reporter wearing a flak jacket, helmet and “press” identification in memory of 83 journalists killed so far in the Gaza slaughter.
He carried the flags of Palestine and South Africa, recognising South Africa’s action in the International Court of Justice in the Hague, where Israel is charged with genocide.
In Cambridge, students and campaigners occupied Barclays bank’s St Andrew’s Street branch and staged a three-hour “die-in” in protest against the banking firm’s investment of £1 billion in arms firms supplying Israel.
In Newport in Wales, campaigners staged a “Rise up for Palestine” march and rally supported by Newport Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Black Lives Matter, Extinction Rebellion Newport, Stand Up for Palestine and the Stop the War Coalition.
Heading the march was a banner stating “UK weapons kill” — a reference to Britain’s role in supplying Israel with weapons including military drones and fighter jets used to attack Gaza.
At a rally in Newcastle, North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll made a powerful speech focusing on words being used to describe what was happening in Gaza, including “proportionality,” “collateral damage,” “apartheid” and “genocide.”
He said that with elections coming this year at a national, regional and local level, campaigners should target politicians with demands that they call for a ceasefire if they want votes.
Today a vigil in Caerphilly in Wales heard Sabrin Hasbun, an Italian-Palestinian from Cardiff, calling for an academic boycott of Israel.
The Cardiff Met University lecturer said: “Israel has destroyed all the universities in Gaza. Not one is left.”
Mr Netanyahu’s statement that Israel would never allow a Palestinian state to exist was criticised by some of his supporters, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
Mr Shapps said in an interview that the statement was “disappointing” but added: “In fairness, he’s said that all of his political career, as far as I can tell.”
Today Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper echoed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy in saying that Mr Netanyahu’s statement was “completely unacceptable.”
