LONDON, (PIC)
Hundreds of thousands of Britons from all walks of life, united by their unwavering commitment to justice and solidarity, have answered the resounding call for the 13th national solidarity protest with Gaza on Saturday.
This impassioned call to action was issued by the National Coalition for Solidarity with Palestine, a formidable alliance comprising esteemed organizations such as the Palestinian Forum in Britain, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and the Muslim Association of Britain.
Anticipation mounts as today’s protest, a testament to the unyielding spirit of the people, has drawn hundreds of thousands of participants. With banners held high and voices raised in unison, the demonstrators converge under a single, resonant slogan, their collective resolve aimed squarely at demanding an immediate halt to arms exports to Israel and renewing the fervent call for a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The vibrant energy of the protest finds its crescendo in the iconic Hyde Park, where the convergence of voices echoes a powerful message of solidarity and defiance. Yet, amidst the sea of voices advocating for justice, a faint discord arises as a small counter-protest, aligned with proponents of occupation, attempts to undermine the collective will with their simplistic mantra of “Enough.”
Adnan Hmidan, Vice President of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, underscores the urgency of the moment, declaring, “Today, our foremost demand resonates loud and clear: an immediate cessation of arms exports to the occupying state. Since 2015, Britain has been complicit in supplying weapons and spare parts for warplanes that rain destruction upon our people, worth hundreds of millions of pounds.” Determined, Hmidan asserts, “The campaign to end arms exports to the occupation transcends the bounds of this protest alone. It is a multifaceted endeavor, encompassing legal avenues, parliamentary petitions, and relentless pressure campaigns, as we have seen on numerous occasions in the past.”
Indeed, Britain stands witness to an enduring wave of solidarity activism, expressed through a myriad of channels including lobbying within the hallowed halls of Parliament, impassioned protests that reverberate through city streets, solemn vigils that speak volumes in silence, and steadfast sit-ins that embody unwavering commitment. In a display of unwavering resolve, some among the British population have even undertaken hunger strikes spanning several days, with one individual persevering for a remarkable three months, all in the name of demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. Amidst the fervor of the moment, calls ring out for accountability, with demands to hold politicians to task for their failures looming large in the looming electoral landscape.
