The demonstration was organized by several human rights groups and campaign organizations, with speakers talking about the British government's complicity in Israeli crimes and of contradicting its public statements on the war against Iran.
Chris Miynum of the Stop the War Coalition, a keynote speaker at the protest, criticized the British government for a gap between its public position and its actions.
“The British government says something but does something else instead. They make public statements saying that the war on Iran is wrong, but they continue to provide logistics and bases for that very war,” he said.
In an exclusive interview with Iran Press, a protester identified as Fiona condemned Israel’s restrictions on the entry of essential supplies into Gaza and criticized the British government’s inaction.
“Israel is restricting items entering Gaza and our government is doing nothing,” she said, adding, “The more the government stays silent, the more we continue and make noise.”
Debby, an Anglican Christian nun attending the demonstration, said people should do whatever they can to oppose injustice. In an exclusive interview with Iran Press, she also expressed frustration with the response of both the British government and the Church.
“It is important that we do the tiny bit that we can. I feel angry that the government and the Church don't respond enough,” she said.
Mary Holms of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), also speaking exclusively to Iran Press, strongly condemned the British government's conduct, saying: “What our government is doing is exactly like what Hitler did. This is absolutely terrible.”
Abdul-Latif Saleh of the Palestinian Youth Movement, another keynote speaker, described Israel’s blockade of Gaza as a deliberate tactic to make life unbearable for Palestinians.
“The blockade is a tactic to make life impossible. Children are freezing. The attacks of Israel on all life are limitless. Israel is looking to make life in Gaza uninhabitable,” he said.
The protest concluded with activists shutting down Westminster Bridge, bringing traffic to a halt as demonstrators continued their protest against British government policies and Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Mojtaba Darabi - H.Hakimzadeh
