Jewish activists gathered outside the Foreign Office in Westminster on Tuesday to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The peaceful sit-in protest was organised by Na’amod, a movement of British Jews opposed to Israeli occupation.
Protesters sang “ceasefire now” and “end the occupation” in Hebrew as they also called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.
One Na’amod activist involved in organising the action, said: “Every moment that the UK government fails to call for a ceasefire costs innocent lives. We say NO to collective punishment and stand in solidarity with Palestinians who are under aerial bombardment and siege in Gaza, and are killed and forcibly displaced by settlers in the West Bank.
"We stand with the families of the hostages taken by Hamas, who have been abandoned by a government that prioritises a punitive military campaign ahead of the lives of its own citizens.”
In a statement, the group also said: “The urgency for a ceasefire comes as the Israeli military’s unrelenting assault has already claimed over 8,000 lives in Gaza, injuring thousands more.
"Under lethal bombardment and the collapse of civilian infrastructure, entire families are being wiped out. In shamefully abstaining from supporting a truce – let alone a ceasefire – our government is complicit in this horror.”
“Intensifying the 16-year blockade of the strip into a “complete siege” amounts to collective punishment, a war crime; the attempt to displace over one million people, without guarantee of return, raises the spectre of a second Nakba, and is a crime against humanity. The war crimes committed by Hamas on 7 October cannot justify the perpetration of others.”
John McDonnell , former Shadow Chancellor, who was also present at the protest said on X: “Extremely moving display of compassion by Jewish young people singing outside the Foreign Office 'Ceasefire now. Justice for all' & 'Olam Chesed Yibaneh. We will build this world with love.'"This protest comes after 400 people joined Na’amod in a rally on October 19 outside Parliament Square to condemn Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza. The group also organised a vigil to mourn the massacre of 1,400 people by Hamas on October 7.
Similar protests have also taken place in the US where hundreds of Jewish demonstrators called for a ceasefire at the US Capitol and thousands gathered at Central Station on October 27.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people marched through London in support of Middle East peace. Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, faced criticism for calling them “hate marches".
In response, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the organisers of the protest, said: “Her remarks will be condemned by anyone who respects democratic freedoms, the implementation of international law, and the humanity of Palestinians.”
"PSC will continue to organise large protests clear on the foundations of respect for international law and anti-racism which inform our movement. We remain confident that we will be joined in protesting by hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens committed to these values."
