Hundreds gathered mid-afternoon in frigid conditions opposite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street office and residence to “give a voice to the majority of the public who stand against hate”, organisers said.
The grouping, Together for Humanity, aimed to highlight its nascent movement against rising anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hate with the event, dubbed “Building Bridges”.
It was spearheaded by Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered British lawmaker Jo Cox, and supported by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as well as a leading British rabbi, imam and peace activists.
Others included Palestinian peace activist Hamze Awawde, who lives in Ramallah in the Palestinian Territories and has had relatives injured recently in the conflict.
Speaking on the US Sunday talk shows, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also insisted that US intelligence was unaware of any secret, advanced Hamas blueprint for its brutal October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the conflict.
The New York Times reported last week that Israeli authorities had obtained such a document a year before the attack occurred.
“We believe they have been receptive to our messages here of trying to minimalize civilian casualties,” he said, including by publishing online a map of places where Gazans could go to find safety.
“There’s not a whole lot of modern militaries that would do that… to telegraph their punches in that way. So they are making an effort.” His comments came as Israel has resumed its intensive air and ground campaign following a week-long truce.
Gaza’s health ministry has said 15,523 people have died in the territory since the start of Israel’s military offensive, AFP reports.The director general of the Government Media Office in Gaza has told Al Jazeera that more than 700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the last 24 hours.
He added that over 1.5 million people have also been displaced in the Gaza Strip.
Seventy per cent of the Palestinians killed were women and children, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, adding that 41,316 people were wounded.
“During the past hours, only 316 dead and 664 wounded were removed from the rubble and taken to hospitals, but many others are still under the rubble,” Qudra said.Israel lays siege to Gaza Strip after Hamas Oct 7 attack in which 242 hostages were taken
Western allies back Israel’s bombardment of Gaza; UN, groups decry onslaught against Palestinians; global protests break out
80pc of Gaza population displaced; 60pc houses laid to waste; 22 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza out of service
Temporary truce starts Nov 24, expires on Dec 1; 105 hostages freed; 240 Palestinian prisoners released
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has vowed to step up efforts to investigate alleged war crimes, as he wrapped up a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, AFP reports.
Karim Khan stressed his visit was “not investigative in nature” but said he was able to speak to victims on both sides of the conflict.
“My office will further intensify its efforts to advance its investigations in relation to this situation,” Khan said. “Credible allegations of crimes during the current conflict should be the subject of timely, independent examination and investigation.”
Opening its doors in 2002, the ICC is the world’s only independent court set up to probe the gravest offences including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
It opened an investigation in 2021 into Israel as well as Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups for possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories.
Pope Francis has said he was saddened the temporary truce in the Gaza Strip had been broken and urged those involved to reach a new ceasefire deal as soon as possible, AFP reports.Speaking in Italian, the pontiff said: “There is so much suffering in Gaza.”
He said the occupied Palestinian territory lacked even essential supplies, adding that the situation there and in Israel was “serious”.