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| UK protests over Gaza air strikes | UK protests over Gaza air strikes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A series of demonstrations are to take place across the UK to try and stop the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. | A series of demonstrations are to take place across the UK to try and stop the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. |
| The protests are due to be held at 18 locations including Portsmouth, Manchester, Hull, London and Glasgow. | |
| They come after several days of smaller demonstrations around the country, including outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, west London. | |
| Israel's government has said it is defending its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks. | Israel's government has said it is defending its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks. |
| 'No defence' | 'No defence' |
| The government launched the offensive after Palestinian rockets were fired into Israel's southern regions, breaking a six-month truce. | The government launched the offensive after Palestinian rockets were fired into Israel's southern regions, breaking a six-month truce. |
| But Lyndsey German, of the Stop the War Coalition, said Israel's actions were not "a defence measure". | But Lyndsey German, of the Stop the War Coalition, said Israel's actions were not "a defence measure". |
| She said there would be "tens of thousands" of people in London alone and this "is just the start of the campaign". | She said there would be "tens of thousands" of people in London alone and this "is just the start of the campaign". |
| "If there is an invasion of Gaza, as looks likely, by the Israeli army, if the blockade continues with people suffering from shortages of food and medicine, then I think this will grow. | "If there is an invasion of Gaza, as looks likely, by the Israeli army, if the blockade continues with people suffering from shortages of food and medicine, then I think this will grow. |
| "This is Israel being aggressive, this is Israel attacking one and a half million people who already live in great poverty, in great difficulty." For every one person killed in Gaza, they are creating 100 suicide bombers. It's not just about Gaza, it's about all of us Annie Lennox Cities protest over Gaza attacks | "This is Israel being aggressive, this is Israel attacking one and a half million people who already live in great poverty, in great difficulty." For every one person killed in Gaza, they are creating 100 suicide bombers. It's not just about Gaza, it's about all of us Annie Lennox Cities protest over Gaza attacks |
| More than 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative and the Stop the War Coalition, have worked together to organise the series of protests. | More than 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative and the Stop the War Coalition, have worked together to organise the series of protests. |
| Former model Bianca Jagger and singer Annie Lennox have supported the action, and have also called on American president-elect Barack Obama to speak up against the bombardment. | Former model Bianca Jagger and singer Annie Lennox have supported the action, and have also called on American president-elect Barack Obama to speak up against the bombardment. |
| Ms Lennox told the BBC that both sides were "wrong" and a total ceasefire was the only sensible solution. | Ms Lennox told the BBC that both sides were "wrong" and a total ceasefire was the only sensible solution. |
| She said the intervention of President George W Bush, who has described Hamas's rocket attacks as an "act of terror", was not helping the situation. | She said the intervention of President George W Bush, who has described Hamas's rocket attacks as an "act of terror", was not helping the situation. |
| She said: "The problem is, from my perspective, they are pouring petrol onto the fire. | She said: "The problem is, from my perspective, they are pouring petrol onto the fire. |
| "They have to sit down. This is a small window of opportunity just before things kick off. | "They have to sit down. This is a small window of opportunity just before things kick off. |
| "For every one person killed in Gaza, they are creating 100 suicide bombers. It's not just about Gaza, it's about all of us. | "For every one person killed in Gaza, they are creating 100 suicide bombers. It's not just about Gaza, it's about all of us. |
| 'Massively disproportionate' | 'Massively disproportionate' |
| Comedian Alexei Sayle, who is also planning to take part in the demonstrations, told the BBC that Israel's response was "massively disproportionate" and although the two countries had a complicated history, the answer was simple. | Comedian Alexei Sayle, who is also planning to take part in the demonstrations, told the BBC that Israel's response was "massively disproportionate" and although the two countries had a complicated history, the answer was simple. |
| He said: "Stop killing people, stop killing children and then start thinking about the little things after that." | He said: "Stop killing people, stop killing children and then start thinking about the little things after that." |
| The UN has reported that some 2,000 Palestinians have been wounded since the airstrikes began last Saturday. | The UN has reported that some 2,000 Palestinians have been wounded since the airstrikes began last Saturday. |
| More than 400 people have been killed including 60 civilians - 34 of them children. | More than 400 people have been killed including 60 civilians - 34 of them children. |
| Four Israelis - three civilians and one soldier - have been killed by rockets fired into Israel from Gaza, which have hit towns up to 25 miles (40km) from the narrow coastal strip. | Four Israelis - three civilians and one soldier - have been killed by rockets fired into Israel from Gaza, which have hit towns up to 25 miles (40km) from the narrow coastal strip. |
| Both sides have so far resisted international calls for a ceasefire. | Both sides have so far resisted international calls for a ceasefire. |
| 'Justified action' | 'Justified action' |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg branded Israel's strategy of bombing Gaza "self-defeating". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg branded Israel's strategy of bombing Gaza "self-defeating". |
| "One of the great victims of the Israeli action is... moderate public opinion in the Arab world, upon whom Israeli long-term security interests depend," he said. | "One of the great victims of the Israeli action is... moderate public opinion in the Arab world, upon whom Israeli long-term security interests depend," he said. |
| He said the reaction of the EU had been "weak" and said member states should have threatened to sever trade links with Israel if the bombardment continued. | He said the reaction of the EU had been "weak" and said member states should have threatened to sever trade links with Israel if the bombardment continued. |
| Chairwoman of the Jewish Labour Movement, MP Louise Ellman, defended Israel's actions. | Chairwoman of the Jewish Labour Movement, MP Louise Ellman, defended Israel's actions. |
| She told the BBC: "The scale of human suffering of the people in Gaza is deeply distressing but the responsibility lies with Hamas." | She told the BBC: "The scale of human suffering of the people in Gaza is deeply distressing but the responsibility lies with Hamas." |
| She described the militant group as an "organisation that does not accept the existence of Israel" and one that "refuses to be involved in negotiations" that would result in a two-state solution in the region. | She described the militant group as an "organisation that does not accept the existence of Israel" and one that "refuses to be involved in negotiations" that would result in a two-state solution in the region. |
| She said: "The crisis is extremely distressing but Israel is justified in trying to stop these rocket attacks on its civilians." | She said: "The crisis is extremely distressing but Israel is justified in trying to stop these rocket attacks on its civilians." |
| Will you be taking part in protests? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Will you be taking part in protests? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |
| You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |