Thousands take to streets calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Thousands of protesters took part in rallies across Britain and France yesterday calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war. Several thousand people marched through central Paris, in torrential rain, behind a banner proclaiming “Halt the massacre in Gaza and West Bank, immediate ceasefire”.
“France must immediately call for a ceasefire so that the guns go silent,” said CGT union secretary-general Sophie Binet, one of several union leaders to speak at the rally. Rallies were held in dozens of towns across France, Binet added. In Marseille, AFP saw several hundred people stage a minute’s silence for Palestinian victims of the war. In Toulouse, more than 1,200 people took part in a march, according to police. Rallies have been held across Europe since October 7.
The health ministry in Gaza says that more than 12,000 people have died in the Palestinian territory in Israel’s military onslaught. Last Saturday saw more than 300,000 people stage a pro-Palestinian march in London. Smaller protests were held this week with one targeting an office where main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer holds meetings. Protesters there waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Ceasefire now”.
Some held placards reading “Stop the war in Gaza” and “Starmer — blood on your hands” amid a heavy police presence in the Camden area of north London. “We are here to basically put pressure on the UK government, and on Keir Starmer specifically as the leader of the Labour Party to pressure the Israeli government for a ceasefire,” said Aziz, a 26-year-old consultant originally from Jordan.
Starmer — whose party is predicted to win an election expected next year — has refused to call for a permanent ceasefire, sparking a string of resignations from his top team. Instead, the former human rights lawyer has called for a humanitarian pause to Israel’s bombardment to allow aid in for the 2.4mn population.
One protester at the London event, Nicoleta, 36, held a placard reading “Bombing hospitals is a crime”.
“Because I’m a healthcare provider I’m here to defend the hospitals, the innocent civilians, the children in incubators,” she said.
“We need a ceasefire and need peace negotiations and an end to the occupation,” she added.