by New Worker correspondent
AN
ESTIMATED 60,000 protesters filled London streets last Saturday – for the third
week in a row – to show their anger at the continuing slaughter of Palestinians
in Gaza by the Israeli war machine.
And around Britain and the world scores
of similar protests took place. Saturday 26th July also saw demonstrations
worldwide; from Tehran to Paris, Islamabad to Berlin, Jammu in India to
Wellington in New Zealand, Singapore to Buenos Aires, Tunis to Seoul, from
Durban in South Africa to Dublin in Ireland, from Oslo to San Francisco:
hundreds of cities and towns in every continent all calling for an end to the
attack on Gaza and a lifting of the siege.
And
notably, 5000 protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel, under the
banner, "No more deaths – Israeli-Palestinian peace, now."
Demonstrators chanting “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies” called for an end
to the occupation and the siege on Gaza, and lit candles to commemorate the
victims.
In London tens of thousands of people
filled Kensington High Street outside the Israeli embassy as they assembled for
a march to Parliament Square.
When the marchers reached Parliament
Square, among the many speakers they heard were Labour MPs Diane Abbott and
Jeremy Corbyn, musicians Brian Eno and Dave Randall, the poet and broadcaster
Michael Rosen and CND's Bruce Kent.
On 29th July the student movement in
Britain issued a powerful united statement in solidarity with the people of
Palestine. Amongst the signatories is National Union of Students Officers
representing millions of students across Britain and over 100 pro-Palestine
student leaders and activists from colleges and universities.
Meanwhile British unions have backed a
Gaza emergency medical supply drop
The
global International Transport Workers’ Federation has sent a lorry load of
medical supplies to Gaza.
The ITF, which counts Aslef, Balpa, CWU,
GMB, RMT, Nautilus, Prospect, PCS, TSSA, USDAW and Unite as its affiliates, has
called for an immediate ceasefire.
It
has organised a programme to help trade unions send food and medicines to Gaza.
The federation’s office in Amman, Jordan is coordinating the provision of aid
and is putting together the first cargo load now for despatch and is expected
to reach Gaza on Friday.
The
supplies will be handed over to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency)
and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, whose support includes the
running of a mobile hospital there.
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