MORE than 300,000 workers, students and youth marched through London for Palestine on Saturday, marking the third anniversary of the 7th October 2023 launch of the Israeli genocide in Gaza which has so far killed over 75,000 Palestinians.
The London march was one of more than 250 demonstrations around the world at the weekend, held in at least 60 countries.
The Israeli genocide was launched by the Zionist regime after Hamas and the other Palestinian resistance organisations carried out Operation Aqsa Flood on 7th October to break the siege of Gaza.
As the march was assembling at Embankment by the River Thames, demonstrators spoke to News Line.
Tony Rea, a south Devon teacher and UCU member, said: ‘The genocide is appalling. I visited Hebron which is full of illegal settlements protected by the so-called IDF. When people talk about settlements you think of small shanty towns, but some are the size of Milton Keynes.
‘We must stop Britain supplying arms to Israel. Also, I was told that JCB bulldozers are being used to demolish Palestinian homes.’
Sajad al-Hairi, a building surveyor from Iraq living in London, said: ‘End the bloodshed in Iran and Palestine. The US military operation in Iran has fallen flat. They’ve spent billions on trying to overthrow the Iranian government.
‘We should sanction the banking system, like Barclays, because Barclays supports Israel. Mr Miliband promises to sanction the settlements, but supports them from the air.’
Adam Fisher, from Essex CWU, said: ‘The British trade unions have to act against the genocide in Gaza.
‘We have to work towards a general strike. There are also incremental things that they should do, for instance, the unions should be calling all their members out on the national demonstrations.’
Charles Rowlins from Wales said: ‘The Labour Party’s position on Palestine is absolute cowardice. Andy Burnham can’t even say the word “genocide”.’
Faika, from Boycott Israel – Not in My Trolly, said: ‘We need people to boycott Israeli goods, because Zionism is committing genocide, and the British government is supporting the genocide, with military equipment.
‘Right now the cost of living is spiralling, and people in Britain are struggling with the cost of living, and yet the government spends billions giving Israel military support.
‘The members in the unions support Palestine but the leaders don’t and they are a disappointment. If they did and we had a general strike we could bring these governments to their knees.’
Gavin Marshall Yorkshire and Humberside Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said: ‘It’s our brothers and sisters out in Palestine trying to save lives that we have to stand in solidarity with.
‘They are being shot at and killed and that is not acceptable for the FBU, for emergency workers to come under attack.’
There were thousands of Palestinian flags on the march, hundreds of placards declaring Free Palestine, BDS NOW! There was a placard saying: ‘There’s no both sides to a genocide!’ There were placards saying: ‘Israel is an apartheid state!’
There were trade union banners from Unite union, University College London UCU, Essex Amalgamated CWU, Tower Hamlets and City NEU, Cambridgeshire NEU, Camden NEU, the FBU national banner, RMT Piccadilly Line, Southend on Sea Unison and Homerton Hospital Unison.
The Workers Revolutionary Party and Young Socialists banner read: ‘End Israel’s Occupation!; Recognise Palestinian State Now!; Call a General Strike Now to Stop Arms to Israel!; No More Nakbas!’
The loud and lively contingent behind the WRP-YS banner kept up constant chants of: ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free! Hands off Gaza, Iran, Lebanon! From Gaza to Iran, killing children is a crime! Donald Trump, Netanyahu, we charge you with genocide!’
All the way from Embankment, across the bridges and back to the rally in Whitehall, ‘Free, Free Palestine!’ rang out from the London march.
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