London protest marks nakba commemoration

CGTN Europe

Thousands of people have marched through #London to mark 76 years since #Palestinians were forced to flee their homes, during the founding of the state of #Israel.  The #nakba - or catastrophe - is commemorated annually - but this year comes against the backdrop of the conflict in #Gaza. Jen Copestake reports.

Transcript

00:00 This is the latest demonstration following months of protests in London, but many here

00:05 are also commemorating the 76th anniversary of Nakba Day, May 15th, marking the day in

00:11 1948 when Israel declared independence and 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their

00:17 homes and forced to leave their land.

00:19 We've spoken to some of the marchers of the significance of being here today and how they

00:24 hope the conflict will come to an end.

00:26 Indeed it's been 76 years since Nakba took place.

00:30 We are all out here for the humanity.

00:33 As the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, we are here to say no to the genocide, not

00:38 just the black lives matters or Jewish lives matters, Palestinian lives matters as well,

00:44 human lives matters.

00:45 As an indigenous woman, obviously, in solidarity with the struggle of Palestinian people, this

00:53 represents equality, justice and freedom for all.

00:58 Especially as an Israeli, my life was built on the ruin of Palestinians, so every Israeli

01:05 should be obliged.

01:06 It's our duty, but unfortunately most Israelis support the genocide of Palestinians and the

01:12 ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

01:13 But I fulfill my duty to support Palestinian rights and the right of return.

01:19 It's absolutely outrageous what we do to the Palestinians.

01:24 The international community now is completely fed up with what is happening.

01:30 And ordinary people are shocked that people are being killed and murdered on a daily basis.

01:36 And then in the United States, in America, for the first time, particularly students,

01:40 they're all rising up and they want peace.

01:43 They want an end to all this hate and prejudice.

01:47 The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement talking about the impact these months of protests

01:51 have had on London's Jewish community.

01:54 The route today was changed to reflect discussions with Jewish community leaders who said it

01:58 would affect an event at a nearby synagogue.

02:02 Student protests are still taking place in other parts of the UK, including near here

02:06 at the School of Oriental and African Studies and the London School of Economics, also commemorating

02:11 the Nakba Day.

02:12 Jen Kovsteik, CGTN, London.

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