Thousands rally calling for “Lasting Peace” in Gaza after ceasefire
Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor,Shottobani
London: Thousands of people gathered in central London on Saturday, 11 October, to call for “lasting peace” in Gaza, just one day after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
The demonstration, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), began at Victoria Embankment and proceeded to Whitehall. Stalls sold keffiyehs and placards were distributed bearing slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “It’s not a crime to act against genocide.”
The march also marked two years since the start of what organisers described as the genocide in Gaza. Speakers at the rally urged continued pressure on the UK government to push Israel to end what they called its “genocidal violence, occupation and apartheid rule” over the Palestinian people.
According to organisers, the London march stood in solidarity with Palestinians “as they count the cost of a genocide that has killed over 67,000 people, including over 18,000 children,” and destroyed nearly all infrastructure in Gaza. The statement also said that “90% of housing stock has been flattened, no hospital is fully functioning, and hundreds of thousands face famine.”
While participants expressed relief at the declaration of a ceasefire, many shared the concern that it may not hold. Organisers cited previous ceasefire violations by Israel, accusing Western governments, including the UK, of enabling them.
“That’s why we must continue to march for Palestine,” said organisers, “to press our government to end its complicity in Israel’s genocidal violence, occupation, and apartheid.”
Nooruddin Ahmed, representing Bengalis for Palestine, a London-based organisation, said, “This struggle is a struggle for justice and the rights of the Palestinian people. We know and we never forget that none of us are free until the Palestinian people are free.”
His colleague, Rajonuddin Jalal, added, “That is why, in our hundreds of thousands, we march once more in London.”
Other attendees, including Ex-Cllr Shahid Ali, Soyful Alam, Ahmed Fokor Kamal, Shafique Ahmed, Ala Miah Azad Bokth Chowdhury and Hussain Ahmed Hira, collectively stated, “This is a movement supported by millions of people in this country and around the world who want freedom and justice for Palestine.”
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign reflected on the two years since the Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, saying, “For two years, we have seen Israel commit a no-holds-barred genocide with the political and military support of successive UK governments.In response, a community of resistance in this country has shown historic solidarity — campaigning daily to demand politicians, public bodies, and corporations end their complicity with Israel’s crimes.