Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett and London Green MEP Jean Lambert call for the UK government to do all that is possible to bring an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, including ceasing all military co-operation with Israel.
The people of London showed up in force to call for an end to the violence in Gaza. Estimates say over 100,000 people attended the national demonstration, which had a strong London Green Party presence.
The London Green Party had a strong presence at the national demonstration for Gaza which took place in London on Saturday, August 9th.
Green Party Leader and Camden resident Natalie Bennett was one of those who spoke at the rally. She said:
“It is important that maximum pressure possible is put on Israel to end the bloodshed that has claimed more than 1,800 Palestinian lives, at least 80% of them civilians.
“Gaza has been subjected to 28 days of vicious, deadly bombardment, its people living in fear and almost unimaginable stress and pressure. The medical system is close to breaking down, essential infrastructure has been smashed, and, as the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said, its institutions have been subjected to ‘criminal acts’.
“Everyone on the streets in London and around the world will be contributing to the growing international pressure for not just a effective ceasefire, but for the commencement of negotiations towards a permanent peace. We cannot allow this cycle of violence to continue.”
The Green Party is calling for the UK government to cease all military co-operation with Israel.
London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert, who has deplored both Israeli incursions into Gaza and Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel, has written to Foreign Minister Philip Hammond to voice concerns over the UK Government’s arms sales to Israel.
In the letter she said: “I urge the UK government to do everything it can to bring about a cessation of violence [and] to immediately suspend all current sales of arms and related equipment to Israel.”
Over the past three weeks, London has held the biggest demonstrations for Gaza in the world, twice mobilising over 50,000 protesters. This Saturday’s demo was the largest to date, with some sources estimating over 100,000 were present.