I witnessed thousands of demonstrators flood the streets of central London Saturday to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. Many of those marching were students, who brandished Palestinian flags and held signs demanding an immediate ceasefire, divestment from their respective institutions, and increased accountability from the UK government. High-profile figures such as Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn and photojournalist Motaz Azaiza were also in attendance.
The director of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, Ben Jamal, provided his insight on the cause during a press release, where he elaborated on the ongoing struggle of the Palestinians and the role of Western powers, including successive UK Governments, in enabling Israel’s actions.
Among the participants were various activist groups including queer rights activists, Jewish individuals, feminists, and more. University students formed a noticeable presence, with students from UCL, Goldsmiths, SOAS, UAL, and LSE among the prominent institutions represented. It was shared that students across the UK and abroad have established camps to protest against funding directed to Israel and their universities’ refusal to sever ties with the arms trade.
The demonstration remained peaceful, with families with younger children forming a significant part of the crowd. Participants chanted traditional Palestinian songs and rallied outside of Downing Street to hear the closing speeches. Motaz Azaiza addressed the gathering, documenting the atrocities he witnessed in the war-torn Gaza and expressing how the protests give the Palestinian people hope.
Andrew Feinstein, a Jewish South African who is seeking Labour leader Keir Starmer’s seat, lauded the student efforts and reiterated South Africa’s support of Palestine. He mentioned the ongoing International Court of Justice proceedings against Israel for genocide.
The march concluded with Ben Jamal’s reflection on the survivors and experiences of the Nakba while reiterating the calls for a ceasefire and ending government complicity in the genocide of Palestinians. Despite a minor incident involving counter-protesters, the march remained amicable and registered more as a solidarity gathering than a protest.
For the in-depth coverage, you can refer to the original article here.