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| Thousands march over Gaza strikes | Thousands march over Gaza strikes |
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| Thousands of people are taking part in demonstrations across the UK against the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. | Thousands of people are taking part in demonstrations across the UK against the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. |
| Up to 12,000 demonstrators took to the streets in London, hurling shoes at the gates of Downing Street in protest. | Up to 12,000 demonstrators took to the streets in London, hurling shoes at the gates of Downing Street in protest. |
| In Manchester, 2,000 people marched and there were hundreds more in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Portsmouth and elsewhere. | In Manchester, 2,000 people marched and there were hundreds more in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Portsmouth and elsewhere. |
| Israel's government has said it is defending its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks, but Gordon Brown has called for an urgent ceasefire. | Israel's government has said it is defending its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks, but Gordon Brown has called for an urgent ceasefire. |
| A Number 10 spokesman said the prime minister had spoken to his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Olmert, on Saturday to press for an end to the violence. | A Number 10 spokesman said the prime minister had spoken to his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Olmert, on Saturday to press for an end to the violence. |
| "Rocket attacks from Hamas must stop, and we have called for a halt to Israeli military action in Gaza," the spokesman said.Hundreds of shoes thrown by demonstrators littered Whitehall | |
| "Too many have died and we need space to get humanitarian supplies to those who need them. As the prime minister has made clear, moderation must prevail." | "Too many have died and we need space to get humanitarian supplies to those who need them. As the prime minister has made clear, moderation must prevail." |
| 'Powerful message' | 'Powerful message' |
| More than 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative and the Stop the War Coalition, have worked together to organise the series of protests on Saturday. | More than 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative and the Stop the War Coalition, have worked together to organise the series of protests on Saturday. |
| In London, crowds marched along the Embankment towards Trafalgar Square, shouting "Free, free Palestine" and "Israel terrorists". | |
| When they reached Whitehall about a thousand shoes were thrown at the gates of Downing Street, echoing the protest of an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush. | When they reached Whitehall about a thousand shoes were thrown at the gates of Downing Street, echoing the protest of an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush. |
| The Metropolitan Police put the total number of demonstrators in London at between 10,000 and 12,000, but organisers claimed that was a gross underestimate. | The Metropolitan Police put the total number of demonstrators in London at between 10,000 and 12,000, but organisers claimed that was a gross underestimate. |
| One, Ismail Patel, said: "Trafalgar Square holds 45,000 people when it is full and it is overflowing, it is more than full. We estimate there are between 60,000-75,000 people at today's rally." | One, Ismail Patel, said: "Trafalgar Square holds 45,000 people when it is full and it is overflowing, it is more than full. We estimate there are between 60,000-75,000 people at today's rally." |
| Police said later they had been forced to contain a group of about 2,000 protesters who left the agreed route of the march to head for the Israeli Embassy in Kensington.Some 600 people, young and old, marched through Edinburgh | |
| A spokeswoman said it was difficult to allow such a "breakaway" to continue as it would require unexpected road closures and would disrupt the lives of local people. | A spokeswoman said it was difficult to allow such a "breakaway" to continue as it would require unexpected road closures and would disrupt the lives of local people. |
| Former London mayor Ken Livingstone addressed the crowds in Trafalgar Square: "Let's send a message directly to the Israeli government: if you think you can win votes by the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children, you are wrong." | Former London mayor Ken Livingstone addressed the crowds in Trafalgar Square: "Let's send a message directly to the Israeli government: if you think you can win votes by the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children, you are wrong." |
| Mr Livingstone told the BBC the protests sent "a powerful message" to the prime minister that the public would not tolerate Israel's "war crime". | Mr Livingstone told the BBC the protests sent "a powerful message" to the prime minister that the public would not tolerate Israel's "war crime". |
| "The silence of the British government, and most Western governments, is obscene, and I think Gordon Brown will see this and recognise the real anger amongst Londoners," he said. | "The silence of the British government, and most Western governments, is obscene, and I think Gordon Brown will see this and recognise the real anger amongst Londoners," he said. |
| Also speaking in Trafalgar Square, veteran politician Tony Benn praised those who had turned out. | Also speaking in Trafalgar Square, veteran politician Tony Benn praised those who had turned out. |
| "All movements begin at grassroots level, and this is one of the most powerful demonstrations I've been a part of," he said. | |
| "What I would like to see is the prime minister and [Foreign Secretary] David Miliband do more, and be more vocal." | "What I would like to see is the prime minister and [Foreign Secretary] David Miliband do more, and be more vocal." |
| Mr Benn also called for a Europe-wide boycott of Israeli goods. | Mr Benn also called for a Europe-wide boycott of Israeli goods. |
| Among the protesters was singer Annie Lennox, who said: "I'm here today as a mother, not as a politician. I'm not pro-anybody, I'm here for human rights.In Manchester, up to 2,000 people joined the demonstration | |
| "The turnout today is absolutely incredible, it shows that so many people really care about the issue. Hopefully now we will see dialogue, dialogue, dialogue." | "The turnout today is absolutely incredible, it shows that so many people really care about the issue. Hopefully now we will see dialogue, dialogue, dialogue." |
| Elsewhere, in Portsmouth, nearly 500 people took to the streets and some 300 marched in Bristol. | Elsewhere, in Portsmouth, nearly 500 people took to the streets and some 300 marched in Bristol. |
| Police said there were about 500 demonstrators in Glasgow and 600 in Edinburgh, although organisers said there were more like 2,000 protesters in each city. | Police said there were about 500 demonstrators in Glasgow and 600 in Edinburgh, although organisers said there were more like 2,000 protesters in each city. |
| A spokeswoman said: "The event went very well and we hope that it demonstrates the feeling of people in Scotland. | A spokeswoman said: "The event went very well and we hope that it demonstrates the feeling of people in Scotland. |
| "That was what today was about, it was to say the siege has to end immediately." | "That was what today was about, it was to say the siege has to end immediately." |
| Civilian deaths | Civilian deaths |
| Comedian Alexei Sayle, who was 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." |
| But actor and comedian Paul Kaye said the situation was just as "terrifying" for Israelis under constant Hamas fire. | But actor and comedian Paul Kaye said the situation was just as "terrifying" for Israelis under constant Hamas fire. |
| Actor Paul Kaye: Fear is the same on both sides of the border | |
| "I think it's important to remember that mothers fleeing rocket attacks holding their children have the same fear on both sides of the border," he told the BBC. | "I think it's important to remember that mothers fleeing rocket attacks holding their children have the same fear on both sides of the border," he told the BBC. |
| The UN has reported that some 2,000 Palestinians have been wounded since the air strikes began last Saturday. | The UN has reported that some 2,000 Palestinians have been wounded since the air strikes 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. |