Thousands of demonstrators gathered on Sunday in London to claim the release of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas and denounce the British government’s decision to consider the recognition of a Palestinian state in September.
Organized by Stop the Hate UK and several Jewish organizations, the march ended in front of Downing Street, with a pressing call to Prime Minister Keir Starmer so that he places the fate of hostages at the top of his diplomatic priorities.
Of the 251 people kidnapped during the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, 50 are still retained in Gaza, 20 of which would still be alive. Among them is the body of an Israeli soldier killed in 2014. The mobilization comes as Keir Starmer announced, on July 30, that the United Kingdom would recognize Palestine in September if Israel did not accept several “substantial measures”, including a cease-fire. The head of government also demanded the release of all hostages by Hamas, but without making it a prerequisite for this recognition. Among the participants was Noga Guttman, cousin of Evyatar David, 24, recently appeared in a Hamas propaganda video, emaciated and forced to dig what he feared to be his own grave. Relatives of Avinanatan Or, kidnapped at the Nova music festival with his partner Noa Argamani, released by the Israeli army in June, were also present, alongside the Grand Rabbi of the United Kingdom Ephraim Mirvis. The demonstration, supported by almost all the movement of British Judaism, brought together united voices to demand that London concentrate “all its diplomatic pressure” on the release of the hostages.
