PROTESTS for Palestine saw thousands of people take to the streets again on Saturday as Israel continued its brutal violence against the people of Gaza.

In London, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and other major centres, protesters demanded a ceasefire and an end to Britain’s arms sales to Israel.

Manchester Palestine supporters marched in their 54th consecutive weekly protest since Israel launched its genocidal revenge on the people of Gaza after the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October last year.

Among the placards and Palestinian flags carried by marchers was the flag of Lebanon — Israel’s recent ongoing invasion of Lebanon and its bombing of targets in Beirut and other populated centres have killed more than 2,000 people.

Manchester protests are organised by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, which unites a dozen campaign groups.

Chairwoman Norma Turner said: “We must continue supporting the Palestinians in their resilience in the face of the unceasing Israeli bombing of seemingly everyone around them.

“We cannot stop until Palestine is free.”

The next national Day of Action for Palestine in London takes place this Saturday (October 19), when a conference on trade union support for Palestine will also be held in the capital.

Actions are also continuing in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign launched in Britain and internationally in response to Palestinian appeals.

Tomorrow Richmond & Kingston Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Wandsworth Friends of Palestine will lobby Wandsworth councillors, calling on the local authority to withdraw pension fund investments in firms complicit with Israel.

The lobby takes place at Wandsworth Town Hall at 6.15pm.

On Thursday the High Court in London is expected to approve a bid by Barclays Bank to take over Tesco Bank. Palestine Solidarity Campaign, trade union-backed charity War on Want and Campaign Against Arms Trade supporters will protest outside, demanding the court rejects permission for the sale to proceed.

“Barclays shouldn’t be allowed to use the Tesco brand to hide its complicity in Israel’s genocide,” organisers said. “Barclays holds substantial financial ties to arms companies supplying Israel with the weapons and military technology it is using in its genocidal assault on Palestinians.”

The protest is from 10 to 11am at the High Court at Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL.