People from every continent stand up for Palestinians

Durban, South Africa, July 13th, 2014. Photo by Saffia Manjoo.

‘End the siege!’ Thousands in Oslo & London protest Israeli offensive in Gaza

By RT
July 13, 2014

Thousands have turned out in London and Oslo to call for an end to Israeli strikes in Gaza. The event organizers say Palestinians are facing “a horrific escalation of racism and violence” at the hands of the IDF.

The British capital saw the largest turnout with thousands of protesters rallying outside the Israeli Embassy on Friday. Demonstrators flooded the streets around the building waving placards that read “Gaza: End the Siege” and “Freedom for Palestine.”

A group of 17 protesters brought traffic grinding to a halt on Kensington High Street when they scaled one of the city’s iconic double-decker buses. The activists suspended a banner from the vehicle on which was emblazoned: “Judaism rejects the Zionist state and condemns its criminal siege and occupation.”

A number of people also staged a ‘die-in’ in the street with children painting their faces to mirror the injuries sustained by Palestinian infants during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Despite traffic disruptions, London police said the protest was mostly peaceful.

Demonstrators hold a banner reading “Free Palestine” during a rally against the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip in downtown Rome on July 11, 2014. Photo by Filippo Monteforte, AFP.

The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign which supports the protests says that: “Palestinians living under Israeli occupation are currently facing a horrific escalation of racism and violence as the Israeli State pursues a strategy of collective punishment.”

The Norwegian capital also saw around 3,000 pro-Palestine activists gather outside the parliamentary building in support of peace in Gaza. Representatives from the Palestine Committee of Norway gave speeches at the event, condemning Israeli strikes in Gaza that have already claimed 106 lives as Operation Protective Edge entered its fifth day on Saturday.

“There is one occupier and one occupied. There is one offender and one victim. It is Israel that never will have peace before they tear down the wall. We need politicians who condemn the wrong-doings of the offender,” Heikki Eidsvoll Holmas from the Socialist Left Wing Party, reported the Local.

More than 4000 Sydney protesters joined hundreds of thousands around the world on Sunday to demand an end to Israeli military strikes on Gaza. The boisterous crowd stood shoulder-to-shoulder, waving Palestinian flags and chanting: “In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinian.” Photo: Getty Images/Lisa Maree Williams

A smaller demonstration was staged in the French capital with at least 300 people gathering outside the French Foreign Ministry. Activists painted the Palestinian flag on their faces and chanted “Palestine will survive!” The Young Palestinians of Italy group also organized a march in Rome to protest the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

This is a very small selection of photos of protest demnstrations around the world. For more, go to Protests around the world stand with Palestine (Samidoun) and Activists around the world for Palestine (Facebook).

Hundreds of people rally in support of Palestine in front of the US embassy on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Saturday, July 12, 2014. Many carried banners and flags, and others chanted. Photo Mike Carroccetto / Ottawa Citizen

Demonstrators protest on July 11, 2014 in Paris to denounce the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip. (AFP Photo

New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2014. Photo by AP

Turkish protesters wave flags as they protest outside the Israeli embassy in Ankara on Friday.

People shout slogans on July 10, 2014 near the Israeli embassy in Athens, during a demonstration by Palestinians and Greeks who support them against Israeli air strikes on the Gaza strip. — Photo by AFP

Tokyo

Outside the Department of International Relations in Pretoria. Photo by AA 

Manila, protest after Friday prayers outside the Golden mosque in Quiapo district, July 11, 2014, Photo by AFP

Srinigar, Kashmir, July,11 2014. Photo by Faisal Khan

Despite international condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that the operation would continue and Israeli had still not ruled out the possible deployment of troops.

The UN has voiced concern at the number of civilian lives that have already been claimed as a result of Israeli strikes. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said reports of civilian causalities, including children “raise serious doubt about whether the Israeli strikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”Israel maintains its operation isn’t targeting innocents and claims that Hamas is using civilians as human shields.

Protests opposing Israel’s bombing and attack on Gaza 10-15 July

Facebook page

People are showing their solidarity for Palestine all around the country and the world.

Thursday 10 July
5.30pm – Nottingham PSC Protest | Outside BBC on London Road in Nottingham Join on facebook>

5pm – Manchester PSC protest | Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester – Facebook>

5.30pm – Nottingham PSC | outside BBC, London Road, Nottingham

6pm to 7pm Protests called by Bristol Student groups – Protest BBC bias on Palestine outside BBC building on Whiteladies Road, Bristol

Friday 11 July
5.30pm opposite – Israeli Embassy, London

5.30pm-6.30pm – Leicester PSC | outside the clock tower, Leicester city centre

5:30 pm to 7:00 pm – West Midlands PSC Protest against the current Israeli military assaults on Palestinians | Outside Waterstones book shop in Birmingham city centre, High St, Birmingham. Read more about this event>

5.30pm Coventry – Silent Vigil for Peace in Palestine and Israel Friday 11th July, 5.30 – 7pm On steps of Coventry Cathedral Ruins

6pm to 7pm Protests called by Bristol Student groups – Protest BBC bias on Palestine outside BBC building on Whiteladies Road, Bristol.

Saturday 12 July

11am to 1pm Frome ,Vigil/protest for Palestine outside Oxfam in Frome town centre

11am to 1pm Cambridge PSC- Cambridge market square, in front of the Guildhall, to protest the attacks on Gaza

11am to 1pm Brighton at the War Memorial,The Old Steine,Brighton

12 midday – Bristol PSC Protest against the murderous attack on Gaza | Meet outside Sainsbury at the Triangle Clifton

12noon, Dundee Protest City Centre

12noon, Aberdeen – St Nicholas Square

12.00 – Sheffield PSC: Stop the Killing – Emergency Protest | outside the Town Hall, Sheffield

12noon in Leeds, Dortmund Square, The Headrow, Leeds

1pm – Glasgow Protest | Buchanan Street at Gordon Street, Glasgow City Centre Facebook>

1pm – Edinburgh, Foot of The Mound

2pm – Cardiff PSC Protest rally – Against the attacks on the Palestinian people | Nye Bevan Statue, Queen Street, Cardiff

2-3.30pm | Dublin Emergency Protest & Rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people | The Spire on O’Connell Street, Dublin Facebook>

2.30pm in Halifax, outside central library on Northgate. Speaker from Gaza, plus Halifax MP Linda Riordan

Sunday 13 July

3pm in Edinburgh, Scottish Parliament, Hollyrood

5.45pm Liverpool Friends of Palestine action against Israeli assault on Gaza. Assemble 5.45pm on Sunday 13th July near Pizza Hut by the bridge close to the Echo Arena. Neil Young is performing at the Arena prior to his concert in Tel Aviv ,amidst the falling missiles,on 17th July.

Tuesday 15 July

5.30pm, Grey’s Monument in Newcastle