Thousands march on Israeli embassy in London in 'free Palestine' protest as marches of solidarity held worldwide
ITV News Reporter Chloe Keedy joined the thousands of protesters who marched to the Israeli embassy to show their solidarity with the people of Palestine
Thousands of people have gathered in London calling on the government to take "immediate action" to support the people of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Huge crowds of protesters arrived outside the gates of the Israeli embassy on Saturday, with dozens of police officers lining the streets nearby.
The Metropolitan Police said nine of its officers were injured while dispersing crowds outside the embassy and nine people were arrested on on suspicion of violent disorder and a further four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the Health Protection Regulations. They all remain in custody.
The force said missiles were thrown at officers during “small pockets of disorder".
Demonstrators chanted "free, free Palestine" and held banners calling for an end to the violence.
Organisers said crowds stretched back to Bayswater Road from Kensington High Street and total 100,000.
Gaza health officials said at least 10 Palestinians, mostly children, were killed in an Israeli air raid in Gaza City on Saturday - the deadliest single strike since the battle with Hamas erupted earlier this week.
In Gaza, at least 126 people have been killed, while fatalities in Israel have risen to seven, including a six-year-old boy and a soldier.
Since Monday night, Palestinian militant group Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, whose military responded by barraging the Gaza Strip with tank fire and air strikes.
On Saturday an Israeli airstrike flattened a Gaza building housing offices of major media organisations.
The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate the building roughly an hour before the strike and is the latest step by Israel to silence reporting from the territory amid its battle with the militant group Hamas.
Watch the moment an Israeli airstrike destroys a building housing major media organisations
Organisers of the march in London have called on the UK government to act to help end what they called the "brutal" violence against the Palestinian people.
Demonstrators arrived at Hyde Park near Marble Arch on Saturday before marching to the Israeli embassy, holding banners and chanting.
Protesters reach the gates of the Israeli embassy in London
Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told crowds they were part of a “worldwide movement for justice”.
“We must remember we are part of an international movement,” she said.
“This is a worldwide movement for justice.
“Palestinian people are having their land seized … and they are now being killed in their homes.
“All of this is illegal.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the crowds that international action provides “succour, comfort and support” to those suffering in the conflict.
Crowds chanted “oh, Jeremy Corbyn” and threw roses as he took to the stage.
“Think what it’s like being a mother or father and seeing a building bombed in front of you, knowing your family is in there, and you can do nothing,” said Mr Corbyn.
“It’s our global voices that will give succour, comfort and support in those settlements alongside Gaza and all over the West Bank, East Jerusalem who are suffering at this time.
“End the occupation now. End all the settlements now and withdraw then. End the siege of Gaza now.”
Husam Zumlot, Palestinian ambassador to the UK, told crowds: "This time is different. This time we will not be denied any more. We are united. We have had enough of oppression.
"Today we are saying enough, enough with the complicity. Thank you for standing with us."
Similar marches of solidarity have been held around the world in recent days, including events in Sydney, Brussels, Paris, Lebanon, Jordan, and Bangladesh among others.
Protests are now permitted again under Covid regulations, the Metropolitan Police said: "A policing plan is in place to ensure everybody is kept safe and to reduce the spread of Covid-19."
Organisers called on the government to 'take immediate action'
The demonstration in London was organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Stop The War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Muslim Association of Britain.
A spokesperson for the organisers said: "It is vital that the UK government takes immediate action.
"It must stop allowing Israel’s brutal violence against and oppression of the Palestinian people to go unpunished.
"The bombardment of Gaza which is killing civilians including children is a war crime.
"The UK government is complicit in these acts as long as it continues to offer Israel military, diplomatic and financial support."