12 May 2019; MEMO: Thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday to mark the seventy-first anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe), which coincides this year with plans for a new deal that will liquidate the Palestinian issue. The demonstration was organised for by the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and Stop the War Campaign (STW).
“Free Palestine”, and “End Siege in Gaza” protesters shouted, carrying pro-Palestinian placards.
The procession started in Portland Place and protesters marched through Oxford Circus and Trafalgar Square to reach Downing Street where the government offices are located.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, affirmed the utter rejection of the Palestinian people and their leadership of all that has been leaked about the suspicious “deal of the century.”
Chairman of PFB, Hafiz Al-Karmi, renewed a call for the British Government to apologise for the historical mistake of the Balfour Declaration and to work for the protection of the Palestinian people in their occupied homeland.
Palestinian resistance icon, Ahed al-Tamimi was among the protesters. The 17-year-old was arrested in late 2017 by Israeli authorities and was later handed an eight-month jail term for “attacking” an Israeli soldier. “We will not be made victims! We will continue to resist!” Tamimi said.
Spokesman for the PFB, Adnan Humaidan, called on British Prime Minister, Theresa May, to stop arming and supporting the occupation while turning a blind eye to its crimes such as the killing of baby Saba Abu Arrar and thousands of Palestinian children before her.
The demonstrators carried placards against the American President, Donald Trump, and his suspicious plans against the Palestinians and called for support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Another British Palestinian, Haneen Khalil, spoke on behalf of OLIVE for Palestinian Youth. She stressed her rejection of negotiations with Israel before it agrees to the right of return of all Palestinian refugees.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also supported the march on Twitter.
“We cannot stand by or stay silent at the continuing denial of rights and justice to the Palestinian people,” Corbyn wrote.
