London, UK - April 27, 2024

Hundreds of thousands of people joined a pro-Palestine march in central London on Saturday to show their support for the people of Palestine and demand an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Waving flags, drumming and chanting loud slogans, organizers from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said they were expecting hundreds of thousands of people to join the rally.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza since Oct 7, 2023 after the group carried out a surprise attack on southern Israel. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from the ongoing Israeli attacks had risen to 34,388, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Saturday.

The protesters voiced their anger with what happening in Gaza.

"I think the main thing is just the silence of everyone else, I think that's what's really upsetting and with constantly seeing these just devastating images, just videos from everywhere, we feel its everybody's responsibility including ours and our children's to show that we are going to stand for what is right and you should stand for humanity and those people who are weak at any time. It doesn't matter who you are at the end of the day, this should never happen to anyone," said a demonstrator.

"To make my boys proud hopefully when they grow up and they see that mum and dad did something while other people did nothing. So we are here. I want the people of Palestine to know as well that there are people who care and there are people who are here to fight for them and stand up for them even the rest of the world and the government doesn't seem to care," said another demonstrator.

A protester said he did so to give a glimpse of hope to children in Gaza, and to tell the government to stop using tax payers’ money to kill civilians.

"If you look at what is happening in Gaza, we need to give children of Gaza hope, not hatred. And it's a belt building bonds across the globe, regardless of what religion, ethnicity you are, and know, send a strong message to the people of Gaza that we stand in solidarity with them and their children are our children, and send a strong message to government that's supplying arms to Israel that this will not stand. It's our money. We are the people, that our money is being supplied and kill children, men, women, and destroy their homes and their hospitals," said a demonstrator.

Another march due to be held in London by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism was canceled at the last minute due to concerns over safety. That protest sought to highlight the 133 people still held hostage in Gaza since the Oct 7 attacks. London's Metropolitan police said these months of protests had led to 'fear and uncertainty' in the Jewish community.

With no immediate end to the conflict in sight, these protests and counter protests will continue in the weeks ahead.

SHOTLIST:

London, UK - April 27, 2024
1. Flag of Palestine;
2. Various of protesters;
3. SOUNDBITE (English) protester (no name given)(partially overlaid with shot 4):
"I think the main thing is just the silence of everyone else, I think that's what's really upsetting and with constantly seeing these just devastating images, just videos from everywhere, we feel its everybody's responsibility including ours and our children's to show that we are going to stand for what is right and you should stand for humanity and those people who are weak at any time. It doesn't matter who you are at the end of the day, this should never happen to anyone.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Protesters holding banner reading "Stop arming Israel, hands off Rafah";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
5. Various of protesters marching forward, chanting slogans, holding banners;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) protester (no name given):
"To make my boys proud hopefully when they grow up and they see that mum and dad did something while other people did nothing. So we are here. I want the people of Palestine to know as well that there are people who care and there are people who are here to fight for them and stand up for them even the rest of the world and the government doesn't seem to care.";
7. Various of protesters;
8. SOUNDBITE (English) protester (no name given)(partially overlaid with shot 9):
"If you look at what is happening in Gaza, we need to give children of Gaza hope, not hatred. And it's a belt building bonds across the globe, regardless of what religion, ethnicity you are, and know, send a strong message to the people of Gaza that we stand in solidarity with them and their children are our children, and send a strong message to government that's supplying arms to Israel that this will not stand. It's our money. We are the people, that our money is being supplied and kill children, men, women, and destroy their homes and their hospitals.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
9. Protesters;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
10.Various of protesters.

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