London protests demand action as Gaza conflict escalates, time for people to wake up’
The largely peaceful march, which began in Piccadilly and concluded outside the Israeli Embassy, saw only a handful of arrests, mostly of counter-demonstrators.
In one of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations London has seen, at least 25,000 protesters took to the streets, calling for an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The largely peaceful march, which began in Piccadilly and concluded outside the Israeli Embassy, saw only a handful of arrests, mostly of counter-demonstrators.
Among the protest’s most poignant voices was Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, who condemned Israel’s leadership for its role in the ongoing war on Gaza. “They should stop immediately, obviously. It is an outrage in the 21st century for genocide to be going on in full sight of the world. I think the leadership of Israel is a criminal band,” Kapos declared, drawing parallels between past atrocities and the current conflict.
The rally was marked by powerful speeches and banners decrying the high civilian death toll in Gaza, particularly the loss of children. Protester Bernie Mcnamee emphasized that the global response to the conflict is beginning to shift. “We can see the tide is turning. We’re seeing companies withdrawing their support for apartheid regimes. We’re seeing it all the time. It’s time for people to wake up, get out on the streets, and let’s support the Palestinians. Seventeen thousand children dead – we don’t even know how many are underneath the rubble,” Mcnamee said, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis.
The demonstration in London is part of a broader wave of protests across Europe and beyond, as calls for a ceasefire intensify amid mounting casualties. With public sentiment rising, many hope these protests will pressure international leaders to take decisive action to end the bloodshed.
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