Protest in London Demands Action over Israeli Attacks on Gaza's Health Services

The emergency protest was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and supported by a coalition of groups, including the Palestinian Forum in Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Stop the War Coalition, the Muslim Association of Britain, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Protesters assembled near the British Parliament, chanting slogans such as "Keir Starmer, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide," addressing the British prime minister, and criticizing the government for its response to the ongoing violence in Gaza.

The demonstrators called for the UK government to cease arms shipments to Israel and demand an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The British government had previously suspended 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel in September, following a review that identified a risk of violating international humanitarian law. These licenses covered military aircraft components, drones, and targeting equipment, excluding those for the F-35 fighter jet program.

The protest came in response to recent Israeli airstrikes that destroyed Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, including its neonatal unit, and targeted Palestinian health workers, resulting in numerous deaths and the imprisonment of hundreds, including Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the hospital's director.

Mark Etkind, a protester and son of a Holocaust survivor, told Anadolu that the destruction of Gaza's healthcare system was "completely appalling." He compared the current situation to the early years of the Holocaust, emphasizing that lack of medical care and food led to widespread death in the Lodz ghetto. Etkind expressed concern that the ongoing situation in Gaza mirrored the early stages of genocide.

"It's absolutely shocking and dismaying and terrifying," Etkind said.

Since the beginning of the Israeli war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, nearly 46,000 people, mostly women and children have been killed.

In November 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its criminal actions in Gaza.