Hundreds join London Gaza protest
Updated on 08 January 2009
Hundreds of people have gathered at a rally in central London to protest against the Gaza conflict.
Activists plan to maintain a presence in Parliament Square around the clock until the Israeli military withdraws and the violence ends.
Speakers took it in turn to condemn the Israeli and British Governments.
Former Labour Cabinet Minister Tony Benn said the Israeli Ambassador to the UK should be expelled.
He said: "We should be making a demand on the British Government because speaking for myself, and I am sure for you, I think the response of British Government has been an absolute disgrace.
"That is a demand that can perhaps come out of this meeting."
Among the 11 speakers who addressed the rally at the Friends Meeting House were Respect MP George Galloway and the President of the University and College Union (UCU) Sasha Callaghan.
Ms Callaghan called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to speak out against the Israeli attacks.
She said: "We ask him to stand up and be brave and walk out of the shadow of US foreign policy and condemn what is happening in Gaza."
Mr Galloway criticised media coverage of the conflict and the language used by some journalists.
He said: "Israel is not targeting Hamas militants in Gaza. How can a warship firing its lead and fire onto a beach and beyond be said to be targeting anyone."
Mr Benn, 83, who retired from a long parliamentary career in 2001 joined peace campaigner Brian Haw at the launch of a non-stop vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament in protest at Israel's attacks.
Further protests in London are planned for this weekend, with the Stop the War Coalition organising a march from Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park to the Israeli Embassy on Saturday.
The Board of Deputy's of British Jews is planning a rally to call for peace, which will take place in Trafalgar Square at 11am on Sunday.
The death toll from the conflict has topped 700, with 699 Palestinians and 11 Israelis killed since fighting broke out on December 27.
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