Hundreds attend vigil outside Downing Street for Gaza hospital blast victims
Protesters gathered in Westminster holding signs that read ‘stop the massacre’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hundreds of protesters have attended a vigil outside Downing Street for victims of a deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza.
Hamas has blamed an Israeli air strike for the explosion, which is feared to have killed hundreds, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants.
Braving heavy rain on Wednesday evening, protesters gathered in Westminster holding signs that read “stop the massacre” and “stop bombing Gaza”.
They also chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Prayers were then held in Arabic, with attendees laying out plastic sheets on the ground to pray on.
Among the attendees was Marja Carter, 26, who said the events of the past week have been “devastating”.
“Events in Gaza have been absolutely devastating,” she said.
“I find it absolutely disgraceful that our Government has been so unable to take a stand.”
She said that Palestinians in Gaza have “suffered enough”.
“We cannot continue to ignore the situation any longer.
“I feel like our Government only cares about it when it spills over into their strategic interests.”
A British-Palestinian woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was at the vigil to “mourn”.
“We are half-Palestinian, our family are from the West Bank,” she said.
“We are here to mourn everyone who has died in the last week, and since the beginning of the occupation.”
She said that the vigil felt “sad and cathartic”.
She added that the Government needs to “wake up and acknowledge our humanity”.
Another attendee, Hannah, 27, said that the British Government must hold Israel accountable.
“I think they can hold the Israeli Government accountable a bit more, and ask them more difficult questions,” she said.
“They say that they don’t control the media but they could encourage the media to show both sides more honestly.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments