Hundreds took to the streets in Oxford city centre in support of Palestine with drumming, chanting and impassioned speeches.
Around 300 people gathered in Cornmarket last night as Israel continued its attacks on the Hamas group which controls the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
At least 150 Israeli hostages were taken into Gaza during Hamas's deadly attacks at the weekend that killed 1,300 people. Palestinian terrorists attacked civilian homes, farms and a music festival with children among the dead.
READ MORE: Oxford public gather in hundreds for vigil to Israel victims
More than 1,400 have been killed in Gaza in retaliatory air strikes.
The besieged territory is relying on generators after its only power station ran out of fuel, but Israel says its blockade will not end until Israeli hostages are released.
The UN's World Food Programme described the situation in Gaza as "dire", with food and water running out.
Yesterday's demonstration was organised by the Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign, with support from Oxford Students’ Palestine Society and Palestine Solidarity UK.
Addressing the crowd, organiser David Hillman said: “We stand with Palestine, with the people of Palestine, with the whole of Palestine.”
Mr Hillman, a member of Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told the Oxford Mail: “We need to stand with Palestine. We are here to call for an end to violence, and an end to apartheid.
“There are people here from every community in Oxford; there are lots of Muslims and Jewish people are here too.
"We are standing for international law, which bans collective punishment, which is what is being dealt to the population of Gaza right now.
"By depriving them of water, food and electricity, hundreds of thousands will die. That’s why we’re here calling for people to stand with Palestine with peace and dignity.”
Hamzah Mahomed, a member of Oxford University’s Palestine Society, said the gathering was about liberating Palestine and protecting the right to peaceful protest.
He said: “Palestine has always had very strong local support in Oxford, especially as we are twinned with Ramallah. But this event is important because the right to protest has been eroded over time by our government, and that has included anything that shows support for Palestine.
“There was silence around the issue of apartheid in the Palestinian territories, and that’s why we’re protesting.”
The protest turned into a march down High Street and onto Cowley Road.
Police described the protest as peaceful.
Members of the Socialist Worker group were also out in force. Member Ian Mcendrick said: “We’re here to support the rights of the Palestinian people. They won’t be able to keep their machines running, they’ll have no water supply either.”
Caroline Raine, Palestine Solidarity Campaign treasurer, said: “We have to protest, we have to let the people of this country know what’s going on. Something has to be done otherwise we’re going to see an endless cycle of violence.”
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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.
Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1
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