On Saturday 19th July, tens of thousands gathered outside 10 Downing Street and marched to the Israeli embassy in London to protest against the Israeli government’s military attacks on Gaza, which escalated last week with a ground invasion by the Israeli military. The mood amongst demonstrators was one of emotion and militancy, reflecting the intense feelings of anger and injustice towards the criminal attacks of the Israeli army.
On Saturday 19th July, tens of thousands gathered outside 10 Downing Street and marched to the Israeli embassy in London to protest against the Israeli government’s military attacks on Gaza, which escalated last week with a ground invasion by the Israeli military. The mood amongst demonstrators was one of emotion and militancy, reflecting the intense feelings of anger and injustice towards the criminal attacks of the Israeli army.
Demonstrators came from across the UK to attend the London demonstration, which included speeches from Labour MP Diane Abbott and Respect MP George Galloway. Most notable was the large numbers of youth from the London and British Muslim communities. The burning sense of anger amonst these youth towards the military aggression of the Israeli state was palpable.
Alongside this impressive demonstration, a Downing Street spokeman, speaking in relation to a conversation between David Cameron and Barack Obama, stated that, “Both leaders reiterated their support for Israel’s right to take proportionate action to defend itself from the barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza.” The juxtaposition of the enormous London protest compared to this hypocritical statement from the UK and US leaders, demonstrates the enormous contradiction between the words and actions of the bourgeois politicians and the mood and thoughts of ordinary workers and youth.
Such statements in support of “Israel’s right to proportionate action” demonstrate in the eyes of the masses how out of touch our leaders are from reality. How can one pretend that the Israeli government’s actions are “proportionate”? How can one describe a ground offensive by the Israeli army as a “defensive” action? How can such politicians focus on the rocket attacks from Gaza, and yet completely ignore the criminal injustices committed by the Israeli state?
Socialist Appeal supporters were present at the demonstration with pamphlets providing an analysis of the Gaza occupation from the International Marxist Tendency, which were taken with great interest from those attending the protest. The main slogan put foward in the material from Socialist Appeal and the IMT was for “a second Arab Revolution”. The first phase of the Arab Revolution in 2011 demonstrated the revolutionary potential that exists across the Middle East, with mass movements from Tunisia and Egypt to Libya and Syria. Seemingly omnipotent regimes were toppled through the movement of the masses. Similar mass movements were seen at the same time both in Gaza and in Israeli, where hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv to protest against the Israeli government.
What is needed today is a resurgence of the Arab Revolution to cuts across the reactionary sectarianism and nationalism in the Middle East, which only serves to divide workers and youth and strengthen the hand of imperialism and authoritarian regimes in the region. Only a revolutionary struggle – in Palestine, Israel, and throughout the Middle East and internationally – can provide a way out for the masses in all countries.
