THOUSANDS of people took to the streets in towns and cities across Britain at the weekend to demand a halt to Israel’s merciless onslaught and continuing slaughter in Gaza.

The actions marked almost eight months of weekly protest as Israel’s attack on the southern Gazan city of Rafah continued with the death toll passing 36,000 — over half of them women and children.

Protests in London were marred by the arrest of seven young people calling for a ceasefire and for a halt to Britain’s supply of arms to Israel.

The arrests happened as about 250 supporters of direct action group Youth Demand marched past Waterloo Underground station carrying placards and chanting “All eyes on Rafah!” and “Stop arming Israel!”

Youth Demand had warned earlier on social media that they intended to block roads and bridges in London.

Protester Olivia Burnett, from Leeds, said: “The time for non-disruptive marches is over.

“When you connect to what is happening to the people in Rafah, you realise we have to do whatever is necessary to end the hell they are living through.

“What are we willing to do to stop babies being burned alive? The answer must be: whatever it takes.”

Another protester, Rory Wilson, a secondary school teacher from Limehouse in London, said the general election would change nothing.

“Both parties back sending weapons to Israel to slaughter kids,” he said. “When politics is so utterly broken, and so many lives are at stake, we have no choice but to resist.”

Nationwide protests included a march through Doncaster in South Yorkshire.

Protesters included Tosh McDonald, former president of train drivers’ union Aslef. He told the Morning Star: “There were lots of kids marching, which is great.

“This is the most important issue facing humanity. There have been wars before, but this is not a war: it is a genocide. It is the annihilation of a whole people.”

Branches of Barclays were targeted by protesters in Manchester and Oldham in the north-west over the bank’s investment in firms supplying Israel with arms.

In the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, musicians will stage a concert for Medical Aid for Palestine at St Mary’s Church, Todmorden, from 7pm on Friday.