PRO-Palestinians have hit the streets of Manchester to protest against Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla detention.
It comes just hours after the vile terror attack on Manchester‘s Heaton Park synagogue, which unfolded on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
SWNSPro-Palestinian protestors march in Manchester centre[/caption]
SWNSPro-Palestinian protestors march in Manchester centre on the day a knifeman killed two people at a synagogue in the city[/caption]
ReutersPolice officers try to stop people marching in protest to demand protection for the Global Sumud Flotilla in London[/caption]
ReutersPeople march to protest and demand protection for the Global Sumud Flotilla in London[/caption]
AFPArmed police officers stand with their weapons inside a Police cordon near Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester[/caption]
Protesters were seen marching at Manchester Piccadilly station today in solidarity with the members of Global Sumud Flotilla – a fleet of 40 ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israeli navy intercepted several vessels at sea beginning Wednesday, after warning activists against entering waters it says fall under its blockade.
As the nation mourned the sick terror attack against the Jewish community – which killed two people – protesters marched through the streets of Manchester.
Hundreds of them gathered outside the Manchester Piccadilly Station banging drums and chanting slogans against the Israeli authorities.
They were seen waving Palestine flags and holding placards that read “Freedom for Palestine” and “Stop starving Gaza”.
Organisers of the protest said they “condemned in the strongest possible terms” the attack in Heaton Park – and called for a minute’s silence in respect for the victims.
Another protest took place in Parliament Square as activists gathered to demonstrate against Israeli authorities.
The protest sparked fury, including from Conservative MP Susan Hall, who described it as “disgraceful, disrespectful, despicable behaviour”.
The demonstrations come in the wake of today’s vile Manchester attack.
An assailant drove a car into people outside a synagogue and then began stabbing them, killing two and seriously wounding four in what police called a terrorist attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year.
Officers shot and killed the suspect outside Manchester, police said.
Authorities said he was wearing a vest that made it appear as if he had explosives. Police later said he did not have a bomb.
The Metropolitan Police force in London, which leads the nation’s counter-terrorism policing operations, declared the rampage a terrorist attack.
Israel slammed the UK government for not doing enough and warned that antisemitism is on the rise after the vile synagogue attack.
Tel Aviv said British authorities “failed” to tackle the “toxic wave of antisemitism” which led to the terror rampage.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said: “I am appalled by the murderous attack near the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on the morning of the holiest day for the Jewish people: Yom Kippur.
FacebookA suspected knifeman who was shot dead by cops after unleashing a ‘terror’ rampage which left two dead[/caption]
ReutersPolice shot the knifeman at the scene after multiple people were hurt[/caption]
AfpArmed police officers talk with members of the community near the synagogue[/caption]
“The truth must be told: blatant and rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the streets of London, in cities across Britain, and on its campuses.
“The authorities in Britain have failed to take the necessary action to curb this toxic wave of antisemitism and have effectively allowed it to persist.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country “grieves with the Jewish community in the UK” after this morning‘s “barbaric terror attack” in Manchester.
“Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded,” he said on X.
“As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
Sir Keir – who cut short his trip to Denmark and rushed back to chair a Cobra meeting – condemned antisemitism and said that Britain “must defeat it once again”.
Speaking from Downing Street, the PM blasted the “terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews”, committed by “a vile individual”.
GettyPolice scuffle with protestors at the south end of Whitehall following a protest in Parliament Square against Israeli forces attacking the Gaza flotilla[/caption]
Sir Keir said: “Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community, a vile individual committed a terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values.
“So many Jewish families first came to this country as a place of refuge, fleeing the greatest evil ever inflicted on a people, and Britain welcomed them.
“Communities like the one attacked in Manchester provided safety, but also the security that comes from a promise that this is a country that stands up to hatred and that we don’t just provide refuge, we provide a home.”
Starmer said the Jewish community in Britain will see a “more visible police presence” as he promised to do “everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve”.
Protests spread in Europe
Thousands of people marched through the streets of Barcelona today to denounce Israel’s interception of a pro-Palestinian aid flotilla bound for Gaza.
Columns of demonstrators, many waving Palestinian flags, converged on the central Plaza de les Drassanes from multiple parts of Spain‘s second-largest city.
Protesters chanted slogans including “Gaza, you are not alone,” “Boycott Israel,” and “Freedom for Palestine.”
Other protests were reported in other Spanish cities tonight, including Madrid, Valencia, and Bilbao.
Thousands also gathered in Italy on Thursday in support of the Gaza aid flotilla ahead of a strike in solidarity with activists.
As dusk fell in Rome, several thousand protesters gathered near the Colosseum in solidarity with the flotilla and against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni‘s support of Israel — a day after a similar protest on Wednesday evening.
APPro-Palestinian demonstrators attend a rally in Rome, Italy[/caption]
EPAProtesters block railway tracks during a demonstration for Gaza following the Israeli army’s seizure of Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) vessels, in Brescia, Italy[/caption]
EPAProtesters attend a rally in support of the Palestinian people and the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) at Porto, Portugal[/caption]
EPAProtesters attend a rally in support of the Palestinian people and the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in Vitoria, northern Spain[/caption]
Footage showed Israeli forces boarding the boats and detaining activists, including Greta Thunberg, as they headed for war-ravaged Gaza.
In video footage, Greta Thunberg can be seen being detained, as well as onboard vision of the flotilla at the time of the interception.
In a statement posted to the social media platform X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: “several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port”.
“Greta and her friends are safe and healthy”.
Images of the detained activists including Greta have been released as evidence of their safety
Reuters Heavily armed Israeli solders were seen boarding the boats[/caption]
In a second post, the ministry shared two images of the flotilla activists, saying: “Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin”.
“The passengers are safe and in good health,” the post ended.
Activists can be seen with life jackets on, holding their hands up in the surrender position.
The humanitarian convoy – made up of more than 40 civilian boats carrying an estimated 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, including Thunberg – was attempting to get essential aid to Gaza.
On Wednesday, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the activists aboard the flotilla will be deported once the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur ends on Thursday.
Reuters Activists were seen on livestream footage surrendering to heavily armed Israeli soldiers[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
