Gaza protest march through city

Demonstrators called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Demonstrators have marched through Southampton to call for an immediate ceasefire to the conflict in Gaza.

About 300 people took part in the protest organised by the city's Muslim council at 1100 GMT.

Speakers called on the British Government to put more pressure to stop the conflict.

Demonstrations have also been held across the UK. A peace rally by the Board of Deputies of British Jews is due to take place in London on Sunday.

The conflict in Gaza is entering its third week, despite international calls for a ceasefire.

Israel said it launched 40 overnight air strikes, while Hamas militants fired several rockets at Israeli towns.

Azad Majid, from the Muslim Council of Southampton, said: "Today's march is really trying to build awareness for people around here exactly what is going on in Gaza at the moment.

It is nice to see free expression but I think the cause is Hamas sending the rockets into a free sovereign country like Israel Councillor Malcolm Hey

"We want people to understand it is not a military exercise but an humanitarian massacre.

"We want to make the British Government go up to the next level and tell Israel if they do not stop the military action they will have sanctions against them or other action."

Portsmouth City councillor, Malcolm Hey, was in Southampton at the time of the protest.

He said: "It is nice to see free expression but I think the cause is Hamas sending the rockets into a free sovereign country like Israel.

"The people sadly has chosen a political party that doesn't like Israel to exist and wants to use terrorist methods to get forward its message."

Senior Palestinian officials are in Egypt for talks on how to end the conflict.

Health officials in Gaza say more than 800 Palestinians have died. Israel says 13 Israelis have been killed.