London: Record number of Christians join peace march

Christians for Palestine at St Anselm & St Cecilia's

A record number of Christians from different denominations - clergy, religious and laypeople - gathered for prayers at St Anselm & St Cecilia's Catholic church in Holborn on Saturday, before joining the 20th National March, from Russell Square to Whitehall, to appeal to the government to stop arming Israel and demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Israel and Iran.

The prayers were led by Revd Sam Fletcher, an Anglican priest from Exeter, and Colette Joyce, Westminster Justice and Peace Coo-ordinator.

The Jewish Bloc was also the largest ever.

Organisers say more than 300,000 people took part in the demonstration.

John Sloboda, academic, musician, and co-founder of Iraq Body Count , told ICN: "As a British Catholic I consider that participating in these marches and rallies is an important act of witness that I can offer, in the face of the ongoing decimation of the Palestinian people.

"What our taxes are paying for goes against everything I hold dear as a Christian. Marching together with fellow Christians jointly asserting "not in our name" brings some relief and encouragement, in the face what would otherwise be an overwhelming sense of despair about our country and the ultra-timid role our church leaders are playing at this potentially apocalyptic juncture in world history."

Several people had come to London from different parts of the country to take part. Anglican Eileen Jones, who came from Eastbourne to march for the first time, said: "Watching the news from Gaza over this past year has just been heartbreaking, I have three grandchildren. I cannot imagine how parents in Gaza and the West Bank and now Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and Syria must be feeling. I was so glad when a friend told us about this Christian bloc."

It took several hours for the last groups to leave Russell Square. At the end of the march in Whitehall, a number of speakers addressed the crowds from a stage near Downing Street. They included Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah the British-Palestinian plastic surgeon and Rector of the University of Glasgow who has worked in Gaza, Lebanon , Syria, Iraq and Yemen; Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK; MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Iqbal Mohammad and Independent MP Zarah Sultana.

Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, 87, shared his solidarity with the Palestinian people. He debunked claims that these marches are unsafe for Jews and highlighted the parallels between his own experiences during the Holocaust and the suffering faced by families in Gaza today. His message was a poignant call to end the atrocities and demand justice for the oppressed.

Former first minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf said: "Condemning the actions of the Netanyahu Government is not anti-Semitic. Those on rallies up and down the country aren't pro-Arab, or simply pro-Palestinian, but pro-humanity. When tens of thousands of children are being slaughtered, how can you justify silence and inaction?"

Apsana Begum MP said: "It has been a terrible year for global humanity. It has also been year which has brought together people from all around the world - against war and injustice. We will keep speaking truth to power. All lives should be cherished: Israeli, Palestinian and Lebanese."

Christians for Palestine organisers said: "Again we march to demand an immediate ceasefire and full arms embargo. For a whole year this madness has been allowed not only to continue but to escalate, as Israel now visits its genocidal destruction on Lebanon as well as Gaza.

"We are sickened by the failure of the international community to hold Israel to account and we demand that our government complies with international law by ending its arms contracts with Israel and supporting the recent UN resolution to impose sanctions until there is a full ceasefire and an end to occupation and apartheid.

"We mourn every life lost, every home destroyed, every dream crushed by violence, and we pray for peace and for the will to act for justice."

LINKS

Christians for Palestine: www.facebook.com/search/top?q=christians%20for%20palestine%20-%20uk

Stop the War Coalition: www.stopwar.org.uk/