Protesters support Gaza victims (From Surrey Comet)

Tooting protesters support Gaza victims

4:00pm Wednesday 4th March 2009 in Wandsworth By Eleanor Harding

Protesters from all over south London headed for Tooting on Saturday for a demonstration in support of victims in Gaza.

Over 300 people marched with placards to raise awareness of the Palestinians’ suffering, including Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups.

It began at Balham Mosque in Old Devonshire Road and ended at Tooting Islamic Centre in Upper Tooting Road, where Labour MPs Sadiq Khan and Martin Linton spoke.

“The situation in Palestine is so central to the wider situation in the Middle East,” said Bruce Mackenzie, from Wandsworth Stop The War Coalition. “Without a solution to the Palestinian question, its going to be more difficult to retain any peaceful settlement in the Middle East.”

“We’re campaigning to lift the economic blockade by Israel, open check points to allow aid, and revoke export arms licenses to Israel. We’re also boycotting Israeli goods.”

Families in the Gaza strip have been left devastated by military action from the Israeli government, which says it will not tolerate rockets fired over its border by militant groups.