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16:06 GMT, Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Gaza protests continue in London

Protesters at the Israeli embassy on Tuesday

Hundreds of people have gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in west London to protest for a fourth day over Israel's air raids on Gaza.

Members of the crowd held banners demanding "Justice for Palestine" and chanted "no justice, no peace" outside the Kensington building.

The demonstration comes after Israel rejected calls for a 48-hour truce in Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid.

Ten people were arrested at a similar protest on Sunday and seven on Monday.

"I'm outraged by what is going on in Gaza and I think it is important Jewish voices speak out against bombing"
Richard Kuper
Jews For Justice for Palestine


Organiser Majed Al-Zeer, from the Palestinian Return Centre, said the numbers of people turning up showed how strongly people felt about the Israeli attacks.

"It is a working day and for some people a holiday and it is very cold but still hundreds have turned out. It is a very reasonable number.

"There are British people, people from the Arab community and people from the Muslim community. The protest sends a very important message that what is happening in Gaza is not right."

Previous arrests

Richard Kuper, from Jews For Justice for Palestine, joined the protest for a third day.

"I'm outraged by what is going on in Gaza and I think it is important Jewish voices speak out against bombing," he said.

"I think it was the scale of the bombardment which is greatly disproportionate that has angered people."

There were 10 arrests for public order offences at a protest at the embassy on Sunday and another seven on Monday.

The demonstrations will continue at the same place on Thursday before moving on to the Egyptian Embassy on Friday and Trafalgar Square on Saturday.

Israel launched further air strikes on Gaza on Wednesday, while more Hamas rockets have landed in southern Israel.

Palestinian officials say about 391 Palestinians have died in the Israeli raids, while four Israelis have been killed by rockets fired from Gaza.



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Related to this story:
UK offers emergency aid to Gaza (31 Dec 08 |  UK Politics )
Arrests over Israeli embassy demo (29 Dec 08 |  UK )
No 10 'appalled' at Gaza violence (29 Dec 08 |  UK Politics )
Israel vows war on Hamas in Gaza (30 Dec 08 |  Middle East )
London protest over raids on Gaza (28 Dec 08 |  UK )

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