UK: Thousands Rally In Belfast In Support Of Palestinians

About 3,000 protesters gathered in Belfast city centre for a rally organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

It follows the upsurge in conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East in the past three weeks.

A number of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations have been held in Belfast since the violence erupted.

On Saturday protesters gathered at Writer’s Square to show their support for the Palestinian people.

They then walked along Royal Avenue to the City Hall.

Rallies also took place in other parts of the UK, including London, Manchester and Glasgow.

The demonstrations came as Israel expands its strikes on Gaza from land, sea and air, three weeks after Hamas launched an attack on its territory.

Since that attack, Israel has been carrying out strikes.

Health ministry in Gaza says the Israeli bombardments have killed more than 7,600 people.

Speakers at the Belfast rally included Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney, the SDLP’s Paul Doherty, the Green Party’s Anthony Flynn and Gerry Carroll from People Before Profit.

A handful of protesters briefly heckled Mr Kearney, claiming Sinn Féin should be more robustly challenging the US government’s policy on the Middle East.

One man shouted: “This a defining moment for Sinn Féin.”

Stewards asked for respect for all speakers and the heckling stopped.

BBC