- An anti-terrorism rally was held in London’s Tavistock Square this afternoon.
Survivors of Hamas’ horrifying attack on Israel on October 7 have told Londoners that life will “never be the same” after the atrocity.
Bar Virkar, who attended the Nova Music Festival, told an anti-terror rally in London’s Tavistock Square that he had lost friends and family in the attack.
“On October 7th, the life I loved so dearly was nearly cut short by a terrorist attack,” Virkar told the crowd. “I had what remained of my friends, my family, and myself. I lost my innocence. I will never be the same.”
Hila Fakrillo, who also attended the Nova festival, said she lost six friends to Hamas attacks.
“We need to stand up against terrorism,” Fakhriro told the rally. We need to stand up against hate. We need to stand up to Hamas. ”
Meanwhile, a British Palestinian activist who spoke at the rally revealed that he had been disowned by his family and received death threats.
John Aziz said wartime rhetoric in Gaza was becoming “irreconcilable”, adding that this could lead to “more terrorism, more destruction and death”.
“I have received death threats and ridicule, including being called a traitor and being disowned by acquaintances,” he said.
“This is a serious problem because there is a lot of intimidation and a sense that if you raise your voice for peace on this issue, you will somehow undermine the Palestinian cause.
“I don’t want that. I want a successful and viable contiguous Palestinian state where Palestinians can live in peace with their Israeli neighbor.”
Aziz, who was born and raised in the UK, said: “I want to talk to Israelis and spread the message of peace together, so that in the end our two governments may start to listen to each other.” ” he added.
He said peace was the “most logical outcome” to conflict, adding: “People want their children to grow up to be normal people and not to fight and kill each other.”
“When the government stands in the way of our peace, ordinary people, like me, must speak out.”
Many of the protesters were carrying Israeli flags, and chants of “bring them home” were repeated as demonstrators demanded the hostages be released.
Mr Wilker said the pair toured British university campuses last week on behalf of the Union of Jewish Students and the Jewish Agency to “show Jewish students across the country that the future can be brighter”. He said that he had done so.
He added: “Just as I was made stronger after such a terrible event, if we as a community seize this opportunity with both hands and choose to make the right changes, people power will “We can show that there is no stronger force,” he added. A strong, united community. ”
The rally was organized by the 7/10 Human Chain Project, one of the main organizers of such events, which have been held in the UK since October 7.
The harrowing speech came as tensions continue to rise in the UK as outrage over the conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip disrupts the House of Commons.
The upcoming by-election in Rochdale has been dubbed a referendum on the Gaza Strip by commentators and candidate George Galloway, despite local residents voicing concerns close to home about the cost of living and the state of affairs in the Strip. There is.
On Friday night, Conservative and Labor fundraising events targeting pro-Palestinian campaigners stormed venues in Stoke and Oxford, confronting Conservative and Labor MPs Anneliese Dodds.
Meanwhile, in London, Tower Bridge was shut down and thousands of people took to the streets as protesters chanted “Liberate Palestine” and lit smoke bombs.
Slogans were projected onto Big Ben on Wednesday night as parliament was suspended after the speaker allowed a vote on a Labor motion calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza.
Today Chancellor Rishi Sunak condemned the Westminster incidentThey said it sent a “very dangerous signal” that “intimidation works” and said it was “detrimental to our society and politics”.
Sunak added that legitimate protests had been “hijacked by extremists” and elected officials were “targeted with verbal threats and physical and violence.”