Eleventh National March for Palestine continues to demand an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza
- Hundreds of thousands expected to protest in London
- Pressure is growing on the UK government to end its complicity through measures such as suspension of arms export licenses
- Important cultural figures to speak and perform at rally
On Saturday March 30th 2024 hundreds of thousands of people are expected to demonstrate in London on the 11th National March for Palestine. Israel’s prolonged and brutal attack on Gaza has killed more than 32 000 people, with thousands more missing as up to 80% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Famine is imminent as 1.1 million people, half of Gaza, experience catastrophic food insecurity. Children are already reported to be dying of hunger in northern Gaza.
On Monday the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including the UK, finally voted for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan. It also urged that Israel lift “all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale.” Israel has rejected the vote, despite it being considered binding under international law. It has continued to bombard Gaza, block aid deliveries and to threaten a ground invasion of Rafah, which will cause further mass casualties among the 1.5 million Palestinian civilians sheltering there.
On Wednesday a cross party group of 135 Parliamentarians wrote to the Foreign Secretary and Business Secretary, saying the case for a suspension of arms export licenses for supplies to Israel is “overwhelming.” They argue that the ruling of the International Court of Justice that there is plausible evidence of Israel committing genocide in Gaza places a legal duty on the Government not to allow arms exports, as there is a clear risk they will be used in breach of international law.
The rally on Saturday in Trafalgar Square will feature a range of speakers and performances, including actor Khalid Abdalla (star of “The Kite Runner” & “The Crown”), the poet Alexei Sayle, singers Reem Kalani, Oscar Jerome, Alexi Murdoch, and Rou Reynolds from the rock band Enter Shikari.
Ben Jamal, PSC Director, said :
“Popular pressure is building globally on leaders to take action to end Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The US decision not to block the UNSC vote, and the UK’s decision to back it, are evidence of this. However, the Security Council resolution, whilst welcome, was inadequate, calling for a temporary pause and not a permanent ceasefire.
With hundreds of thousands of Palestinians on the brink of famine, and Israel making clear it will ignore the UN, action is needed now to enforce the will of the international community. The clear duty of the UK government is to end its complicity in Israel’s genocide. An immediate first step, under its own export guidelines, as recognised by 135 MPs and peers, is to suspend export licenses for arms supplies to Israel. This must be followed by a resumption of funding to UNWRA, the Palestinian refugee agency that can prevent famine taking hold in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands will again march on Saturday to press these demands.”