Demonstrators gather for protests in support of Palestinians
AROUND 400 people gathered in the centre of Cardiff on Saturday afternoon as part of a UK-wide demonstration in support of Palestine.
Organised by the Cardiff Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC), the protest is to show support for Palestinians in light of renewed hostilities this month.
Campaigners condemned the airstrikes which killed 200 Palestinians – including 59 children – in the region. The attacks also saw a further 12 people killed by rockets from Gaza directed at Israel.
Saturday marked the first full day of a truce that ended the fourth IsraelHamas war in just over a decade.
Israel’s security cabinet approved a ceasefire.
The peaceful gathering in the Welsh capital, outside the new BBC building in Central Square, was attended by people holding placards reading “End Israeli state terror” and “Save Palestine, Save Gaza”.
There was a sizeable police presence, with around 20 officers from South Wales Police stationed around the square and four police vans parked up.
Mohammed Hadia, one of the organisers, read out the names of the Palestinian children who had died in the airstrikes. He said: “This was not a war on terrorism. This was a war on children, on human rights, on justice.”
His speech was followed by a moment of silence for those who had died in Gaza.
Mohammed Al Hadj Ali, chairman of the Syrian Welsh society, also gave a speech and said: “We have heard about more than 1,600 airstrikes on Gaza Strip that killed at least 243 peohas ple, among them 100 children and women.
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen 200 residential units demolished completely. These are not military bases, these are places where people, women and children live. This cannot continue.”
The solidarity movement pledges to continue protesting until the Palestinian people “enjoy their birthright, freedom, justice and equality”.
Saturday’s demonstration followed a vigil outside the Senedd earlier in the week and was one of several around the country.
Jeremy Corbyn was among the speakers at a protest attended by thousands in Hyde Park, central London. Organisers from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign estimated that over 180,000 people attended the rally.
Former Labour leader Mr Corbyn said: “Children should not grow up having seen their home demolished by a bomb dropped from the safety of thousands of feet above.
“The occupation is the issue, the occupation of the West Bank, the siege of Gaza, they are the issues. While the ceasefire is a step forward, unless the fundamental issues are addressed, we will be here again.”