Urgent Call for Action: Thousands Protest in London Demanding the Release of Hostages in Gaza
Thousands of people marched in London on Sunday to demand the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The demonstration began at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Holborn, and ended at Richmond Terrace, Whitehall. Families of the hostages emphasized the urgent need to "bring our loved ones home"
The rally, part of broader pro-Israel demonstrations, featured protesters in Trafalgar Square holding photos of the missing, with their names and short biographies read aloud from the steps of the National Gallery. Protesters also held up placards with the names and brief biographies of all the hostages still unaccounted for. Many wore stickers with the number 240, representing the number of days that the hostages have been in captivity. Yellow ribbons were worn on wrists, in hair, and as ribbon stickers in solidarity with all the hostages. The gathering aimed to draw global attention to the plight of these hostages, emphasizing the urgency of their release (click here).
Security was high, with a significant police presence. Many in the crowd chanted "bring them home," "rape is not resistance," and "no hostages, no ceasefire," holding signs that read "release the hostages." The protest follows the abduction of around 250 individuals by Hamas on October 7 last year, with at least 37 presumed dead. Osnat and Menachem Getz, relatives of 22-year-old IDF tank commander Omer Neutra, who was captured during the attacks, shared their heartache and called for international pressure on Hamas to secure the hostages' release.
President Joe Biden has urged for a deal to free the remaining hostages and retrieve the bodies of those killed, advocating for an extended ceasefire. Despite efforts, talks stalled last month, with families warning that time is running out.
The event was organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK, with attendees from various countries. Speakers included hostages' families, Lord Polak CBE, and Professor Daniel Shek. Merav and Amir Daniel, whose son Oz was killed after initially being believed to be a hostage, stressed the global importance of combating terrorism and securing the return of all hostages.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of United by Faith, remarked, "The event was exceptionally well-organized, and I was pleased to see a significant increase in the number of Christians attending today."
The protest concluded without major incidents, though a minor altercation led to one arrest after a pro-Palestine supporter threw a bottle at the protestors. A woman was also arrested for slapping a Jewish protestor across the face. Families continue to call for urgent and united international action to bring their loved ones home.
"I want a ceasefire in Gaza as much as anyone, but how can we discuss it while hostages remain in the hands of a malevolent, proscribed terrorist group? This group shows no qualms about inflicting brutal violence on innocent people and has weaponized sexual violence in the most abhorrent ways. There are people who have been held in undoubtedly brutal captivity for 240 days, and they must be released. Any further delay only serves to underscore the sickening malice of a group intent on causing pain," Mr Chowdhry, said.
"I hope a solution can be found that leads to the return of the 121 people still missing and ultimately culminates in a much-needed ceasefire. International efforts will then be crucial in restoring peace in the Middle East, which will be a challenging task. However, as we have seen, reactions to this war have caused huge tensions internationally, making it imperative to do everything possible to restore stability," he added.
Mr. Chowdhry was honored as an invited guest speaker at the inaugural Counter-protest organized by the Israeli Community. You can watch his powerful address here:
Mr. Chowdhry has actively campaigned for the removal of Palestinian flags in Ilford (click here), having voiced his concerns and spearheaded a delegation to Redbridge Full Council Meetings (click here). His advocacy intensified after his daughter experienced bullying in school from peers espousing antisemitic views in support of Palestine (click here). Additionally, various groups have reported numerous antisemitic incidents to local councils, the police, and governmental bodies at local and national levels. These collective efforts have prompted a more concerted action to address offensive displays. However, despite these initiatives, antisemitic attacks in the UK have surged to unprecedented levels, surpassing those seen since World War II (click here).
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