Campaigners step up Gaza protests (From Ledbury Reporter)

Campaigners step up Gaza protests

5:47pm Thursday 8th January 2009

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British campaigners stepped up protests against the Gaza conflict amid growing concerns about the impact of the fighting on civilians.

Amnesty International claimed Israeli soldiers were using Palestinians as human shields, while the United Nations halted aid shipments to Gaza after its staff and buildings were hit in attacks.

For a second day Israel temporarily suspended military action for three hours to allow Gazans to stock up on supplies, but aid agencies said only a full ceasefire would allow them to tackle the massive humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, police were preparing for further demonstrations by supporters of both Palestine and Israel in the coming days as tensions rose in Britain as a result of the bloody violence.

On Wednesday night nine men were arrested when two rival groups of protesters clashed in the streets outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, west London.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, who is responsible for Scotland Yard's central operations branch, said the demonstrations required at least 200 officers every night and had already cost the Metropolitan Police £300,000.

Veteran peace campaigners Tony Benn and Brian Haw joined the launch of a non-stop vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament today in protest at Israel's attacks. Activists plan to maintain a presence in Parliament Square around the clock until the Israeli military withdraws and the violence ends.

Mr Benn, 83, who retired from a long Parliamentary career in 2001, condemned the "massive humanitarian crisis" in Gaza. But he praised the thousands of people in Britain who have joined demonstrations for peace.

Further protests in London are planned this weekend, with the Stop the War Coalition organising a march from Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park to the Israeli Embassy on Saturday. The Board of Deputies of British Jews is planning a rally to call for peace in Israel and Gaza, which will take place in Trafalgar Square at 11am on Sunday.

British aid agencies Islamic Relief and Cafod warned the humanitarian crisis was deepening hour by hour.

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