By Lucy Snell and Isabel Gonzalez Belobradic
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters, including groups from the ELL boroughs, gathered at Trafalgar Square on Saturday to call for an immediate ceasefire and for the UK government to cut ties with Israel, as the conflict continued to escalate into Lebanon.
Among the participants were activists from the boroughs Lewisham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Croydon, who accused the British government of supporting Israel bombing campaign.
The protesters finished the demonstration at Downing Street, where they laid down flowers and toys at the gates of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s residence to commemorate the Palestinian lives lost.
Israel’s military campaign has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, including over 16,000 children and has lead to millions displaced. The year-long war began after the armed wing of Hamas political party launched an attack into Israel killing around 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostage.
Protesters also condemned the recent Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Israel has described the invasion as “limited, localised and targeted” raids against militant group Hezbollah.
Before attending the national demonstration, Lewisham activists held a rally for Palestine at the Lewisham Clock Tower and members of Hackney Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) travelled to central London from Dalston Junction station.
Eastlondonlines spoke with local activists, including members the PSC, about their ongoing activism.
Amina Mangera, a Lewisham activist and former member of the Lewisham branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, attended the rally and has been advocating for Palestine for several years.
Originally from South Africa, Mangera said her background has shaped her commitment to fighting for Palestine: “Experiencing Apartheid is something that never leaves you,” she said. “Knowing people are experiencing things that, to be honest, are so much worse in Palestine, leaves you heartbroken.”
Mangera has supported various local campaigns for Palestine, including a divestment campaign urging the council to remove its pension fund investments from companies with ties to Israel.
Lewisham-based Palestinian activist Aliya Al Ghussain also spoke about the important of campaigning for divestment. Al Ghussain told ELL: “I am Palestinian, and I actually have family in Gaza, so for me it’s very personal, but I also feel like we all have an obligation to do something, and actually this [divestment campaign] is the smallest thing that we could do to show solidarity with people who are facing genocide.”
In Hackney, activists have also been heavily involved in the divestment efforts. Sussan Rasi, the secretary of the Hackney Palestine Solidarity Campaign, highlighted their focus on boycott and divestment actions.
“In 2005, Palestinian groups came together and appealed to the international community for support. All the peace talks had failed, and the big governments were failing Palestinians. So, we decided to call on ordinary people everywhere to boycott, divest, and sanction,” Rasi explained.
Councillor Claudia Turbet-Delof, member of the Victoria ward and joint leader of the Hackney Independent Socialist Group, shared her thoughts on the role of local government in addressing international matters such as the war in Palestine, after she and her fellow independent councillors, Penny Wroute and Fliss Premru Frame, resigned from the Labour Party last May.
The trio were suspended by Hackney Labour earlier this year for voting in favour of hearing a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Turbet-Delof told ELL: “I left the party to become an independent over their position on Gaza. We didn’t leave intending to become anything but principled. Now, because the three of us left, we are the second largest group in the council, and we’ve been very active,” she explained. “It’s the first time ever Hackney has independent councillors—it’s quite historic.”
At the protest, Ben Jamal, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign and who is Palestinian, told ELL that pro-Palestine activists had experienced “censorship” and narratives which “demonise” Palestinians.
Jamal said: “There is nobody who has been involved in activism for Palestine… who’s not experienced attempts to silence their voice.
“There is a very well organised campaign, that Israel speaks very openly about; to try and oppress and the main aim is to silence Palestinian voices and those advocating for Palestinians. Part of the way that is done is through narratives of antisemitism, support for terrorism, but it is part of a process of trying to demonise those who take action on behalf of Palestine,” Jamal adds.
Leading Jewish organisations have warned of anti-Semitism at pro-Palestine marches, pointing to the chanting of controversial slogans such as “from the river to the sea”, as well as the small number of attendees who have celebrated Hamas’ attack on Israel at the protests.
Members of Croydon and Tower Hamlets PSC were also present at the protest.
A few pro-Israel protesters were also present at Trafalgar Square and ELL witnessed minor confrontations between people with opposing views at the protest.
