Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered in London on Saturday calling on the Group of Seven (G7) leaders to support Palestinian rights.
The protest formed part of the “Resist G7 Day of Action for International Justice” organized by a coalition of groups calling on the G7 nations to “end all military-security cooperation with Israel, and employ targeted sanctions until Israel complies with international law,” the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.
CND supporters are out in large numbers in London today – demanding justice for Palestine from the G7.
End the siege of Gaza. Stop arming Israel. #FreePalestine #ResistG7 pic.twitter.com/nwqkLU0Fbz
— CND (@CNDuk) June 12, 2021
Organizers said over 8,000 people attended the protest, and 185,000 people directly contacted MPs to “pressure the UK government to hold Israel accountable for repeatedly violating international law, via the imposition of sanctions.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the protest and called on the G7, which was meeting in southwest England, to support Palestinian refugees and recognize the rights of Palestinian people.
A little bit of the Resist G7 Day of Action #London #Palestine #RESIST #StopTheDeportation pic.twitter.com/PzMpzgRpua
— Shai💫 (@shai__latte) June 12, 2021
“At today’s Justice For Palestine demonstration in London, I also called for a halt to arms sales,” Corbyn wrote on Twitter.
“UK-made weapons are killing civilians – including children – in conflicts abroad. This must stop,” he added.
The protest came two days before Parliament was set to debate a petition to introduce sanctions against Israel, after it received more than 380,000 signatures, above the 100,000 threshold required for it to be considered.
London 🇬🇧 says
Free free Palestine 🇵🇸✊
Solidarity with Colombia 🇨🇴✊ #ParoNacional #12June #G7 pic.twitter.com/OOqXPmLc5P— Mafapo Internacional (@MafapoT) June 13, 2021
The text of the petition reads: “The government should introduce sanctions against Israel, including blocking all trade, and in particular arms.”
“Its disproportionate treatment of Palestinians and settlements that are regarded by the international community as illegal are an affront to civilized society.”
Dr Maha Azzam, Head of ERC, speaks today at Resist the G7 Coalition Rally in London today at 10 Downing Street. During the rally, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd and called on the G7 to recognise the rights of Palestinian people.https://t.co/jE2ecHcyl9
— ERC EGYPT (@ERC_EGYPT) June 12, 2021
It came after Israel brutally attacked Palestinian worshippers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the final days of Ramadan and went on to launch airstrikes against the besieged Gaza Strip. Almost 300 Palestinians were killed across the occupied territories as a result of Israel’s attacks.
For 11 days, Israel launched attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip. Health officials in Gaza say over 250 Palestinians, including 66 children and 39 women, were killed and more than 1,900 wounded in air and artillery bombardments.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
