PRO-PALESTINIAN protesters closed down London’s busiest shopping area this weekend as thousands of people took to the streets across Britain calling for an end to Israel’s slaughter.

Campaigners from London Palestine Action (LPA) staged a sit-down on the Oxford Circus junction, where they held a rally in solidarity with the over 40 Palestinians killed by Israelis since the beginning of October. 

Actions also took place in Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and cities across Scotland on Saturday.

LPA spokeswoman Layla White said during the London protest: “We’ve taken disruptive direct action today to draw attention to the Palestinian popular resistance which is defying curfews and reclaiming the streets of Palestine against military occupation every day.”

Fellow campaigner Roland Rance, who marched around the capital with the Jews Against Zionism campaign, told the Star: “We are here to oppose Israeli war crimes.

“To insist that the state of Israel has no right to act in our names or to speak on our behalf and to show that opposition to zionism and apartheid is not anti-semitism.

“We recognise that there can be no peace for the people of Israel without justice for the Palestinian people, including the return to their homes, towns and villages, Palestinians whose families were expelled in 1948 to enable the establishment of the state of Israel.”

Alongside Mr Rance, campaigners from Jewish Socialists Group, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods joined the demonstration

In Scotland the Palestine Alliance co-ordinated rallies in nine of its major cities with the biggest action taking place in Glasgow.

Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland chair Dr Issam Hijjawi said: “Despite the condemnation from the international community, Israel maintains its refusal to abide by international law and UN resolutions.

“For as long as Israel denies the basic human rights of Palestinians, the peace process will continue to fail.

“We are now witnessing a new generation of Palestinians, born after the the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993, who see no sign of an end to their colonisation, occupation and oppression by Israel.

“They are denied basic freedoms and face execution by one of the most powerful military forces in the world for resisting by throwing stones.

“It should surprise no-one that having seen no change for their entire lives, young Palestinians will look for a way to vent their frustration.”