Hundreds of protesters including family members of Israeli hostages held in Gaza took to the streets of London on Sunday to urge the Government to facilitate their release.
The protest comes just one day after police arrested more than 530 people at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of demonstrators have flooded the streets of Israel over the weekend to protest against its government’s plans to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday that the country’s security cabinet approved proposals for a “takeover of Gaza City,” located in the north of the war-torn enclave.
Speaking during a press conference on Sunday, Netanyahu indicated that the operation will also “dismantle” areas in the central Gaza Strip, where refugee camps house about one million Palestinians and Israeli hostages are believed to be held.
Two arrests were made at the National March For The Hostages, in central London (Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)The plan’s five objectives are to disarm Hamas, demilitarise Gaza, return all Israeli hostages, take security control of the territory and set up “an alternative civil administration” that is not run by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
But family members of hostages and leading Jewish organisations across the globe have protested against the plans, fearing they would impede efforts to return the 50 captives, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
The demonstration in central London on Saturday, organised by Stop the Hate UK and organisations representing Jewish people in Britain, sought to pressure Sir Keir Starmer to bring about the release of the hostages before a Palestinian state is recognised.
Starmer said last month the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.”
Addressing “The National March for Hostages” at Downing Street, the UK’s Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis asked how the Government would “ever be able to live with the fact that [it] would have recognised a Palestinian state, at the head of which is a terrorist organisation, with a stated intention of destroying the state of Israel and harming Jews right around the world and all this at a time when the hostages are still languishing in the tunnels of Gaza?”
Demonstrators condemned Starmer’s plan to recognise Palestine while Hamas is in power (Photo: Belinda Jiao/Getty Images)Caption: People hold placards and wave Israeli flags during the National March For The Hostages near Trafalgar Square, central London (Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)He said it is “time for responsible action, it is not too late”, vowing to continue to do “whatever we can for the sake of each and every one of the hostages.”
Ayeet Svatitzky, whose brothers Roi and Nadav Popplewell were killed by Hamas, told demonstrators that recognising the state of Palestine before the return of all of the hostages is a “prize” to the terrorist group.
Roi was killed during Hamas’s cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October, 2023, while Nadav was captured and murdered during his captivity in Gaza.
Rev Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, delivering a speech during the march (Photo: Belinda Jiao/Getty Images)Starmer said the UK plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and addresses the situation unfolding in Gaza (Photo: Jaimi Joy/Reuters)The Metropolitan Police said two protesters were arrested at the demonstration for “assault following a disagreement between attendees in the crowd”.
One man, who is not part of the march, was also arrested for common assault and a racially aggravated public order offence.
Israeli plan ‘endangers hostages and soldiers’
Bring Them Home Now, an organization representing the families of Israeli captives, shared a photo on social media of a demonstration on Saturday, when 60,000 people gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel.
“Expanding the fighting endangers the hostages and the soldiers – the people of Israel are not willing to risk them!” the group said alongside the post.
The UK, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia also released a joint statement condemning Israel’s plan to expand operations in Gaza on Sunday.
The demonstration took place outside the Defence Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday (Photo: Jack Guez/AFP) Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip attend a rally demanding their release in Tel Aviv on Saturday (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)“This plan risks violating international humanitarian law,” their statement said.
“The Security Council has consistently called for the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages.
“And we are clear that Hamas must disarm and play no future part in the governance of Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role. But this decision by the Israeli Government will do nothing to secure the return of the hostages and risks further endangering their lives.”
The statement also called for Israel to lift restrictions on aid deliveries.
Netanyahu held a press conference on Sunday to defend the new military offensive in Gaza, claiming Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas”.
The Israeli Prime Minister said he has directed Israel’s military to “bring in more foreign journalists” to cover the war in Gaza, indicating that he is willing to loosen strict rules prohibiting international press from accessing the territory.
Netanyahu addressing reporters during the press conference in Jerusalem (Photo: Abir Sultan/AFP via Getty Images)Netanyahu reiterated that his government’s “goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza.”
Addressing concerns about the plan putting hostages at risk, he added: “If we don’t do anything, we are not going to get them out.”
“The move I’m talking about has the possibility of getting them out,” Netanyahu said.
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Read MoreHe also rejected what he called a “global campaign of lies” in relation to humanitarian aid accessing the war-torn enclave.
He said “hundreds of trucks have gone into Gaza”, adding that “two million people are now getting access to humanitarian aid,” despite widespread condemnation and concerns over the starvation crisis unfolding in the strip.
The Israeli Prime Minister said there is a three-step plan to tackle the crisis unfolding in Gaza, including designating safe corridors for humanitarian aid distribution, increasing the number of safe distribution points managed by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and increasing air drops by Israel and its allies.
Netanyahu also rejected plans by countries across the globe, including the UK, Canada and France, to recognise a Palestinian state, saying “it’s not going to happen” as it would “invite a future war and a certain war.”
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