PALESTINE supporters have ramped up their actions for a ceasefire and an end to Britain’s complicity in Israel’s crimes following the targeting of Rafah in Gaza.
Rafah, originally designated a “safe zone” by Israel, has been under heavy attack in recent days.
More than 1.5 million displaced people are currently sheltering in the area.
Demonstrators from Amnesty International, dressed in black and holding statements from Palestinians in Rafah, took part in a silent vigil for victims at the gates of Downing Street, central London, today.
“My children’s small bodies were torn into pieces,” read one sign quoting 30-year-old Islam Harb.
The demonstrators wore plain white masks in protest at the government’s recent charge that those wearing face coverings could be arrested.
In Bristol, activists from Palestine Action blocked the entrance to the HQ of Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems, by locking themselves together.
Elbit Systems produces military drones, munitions, combat vehicles, missiles and other Israeli weaponry.
The majority of their arms are marketed as “battle-tested,” meaning they have been deployed in bombardments against the Palestinian people.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “While Israeli weapons companies — which assist in occupying, displacing and massacring the people in Gaza — operate on our doorstep, it’s up to the people to take direct action to shut Elbit down.
“Every other method — including marches, petitions and lobbying — has failed to end British complicity in the occupation.”
Activists from the group also drenched the Manchester offices of Bank of New York Mellon in red paint, to symbolise the bank’s complicity in Palestinian bloodshed.
The Bank has invested over £10 million in Elbit Systems.
On Tuesday evening, around 300 people attended an emergency protest in Manchester that started in St Peters Square, marched around the city centre and ended outside Barclay’s on Market Street.
The action was part of hundreds taking place at the same time, including an emergency vigil in Peebles organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The group will travel to Glasgow this Saturday for a national demonstration for Palestine, assembling at 1pm at George Square before marching to the Scottish Labour conference at the Scottish Event Campus.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza are also expected to take to the streets of London on Saturday.
The national march for Palestine will assemble at Speakers’ Corner, Hyde Park, at noon and march for the first time to the Israeli Embassy.
Stop the War convenor Lindsey German said: “We are witnessing genocide in real time.
“It is clear that Israel is intent on driving the Palestinians out from Gaza and the West Bank, to ethnically cleanse them from historic Palestine.
“We are determined they won't succeed.
“We will keep marching and protesting, day after day, week after week, in demand of an immediate ceasefire.”
