Hundreds march in Bristol over Gaza bombings

Hundreds of protesters joined a demonstration in Bristol against the bombing of Gaza as part of a series of rallies held across the UK.

An estimated 500 people met outside the Hippodrome to hear calls for a halt to the Israeli attacks on Gaza before marching through the city with a police escort.

It has been more than a week since the rocket attacks between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas started.

Caught in the crossfire, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed and some 1,700 have been wounded since Israel began its aerial war on Hamas.

Yesterday Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for a ceasefire between the two sides as the conflict in the Middle East escalated.

Israel sent tanks and thousands of ground troops into Gaza as international leaders tried to work out a way of stopping the violence.

America's support for Israel has been criticised by groups in this country, as has the British Government's failure to condemn the bombing of Gaza.

Among those addressing the crowd on Saturday was Nina Franklin, Bristol divisional secretary of the National Union of Teachers, and Imam Assad Ali Shah of St Mark's Road Mosque in Easton.

Ms Franklin called on the British Government to "take urgent notice of the anger all over Britain" being expressed in Bristol and elsewhere.

Organisers said many of those involved in a week-long vigil on the Centre leading up to the rally had never protested before.

But they said people had been shocked by the images coming out of Gaza, where schools, hospitals and homes have been destroyed and dozens of children were among the dead. Organisers hailed the Bristol rally a success.

Cliff Hanley, chairman of Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: "We were over-whelmed by the huge turn-out.

"Bristol has responded magnificently to show their opposition to the attacks on Gaza.

"They have been so shocked by what they've seen on the news over the last week that they've come along to make contact and to make their protest seen.

"People are angry at what Israel is doing and furious at the hypocrisy of our own Government's support for Israel."

Bristol's event was organised by the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Bristol Stop the War Coalition.

Jeremy Clarke, of Bristol Stop the War Coalition, said: "Gordon Brown must condemn the Israeli attacks. The people of Gaza need our support."

In London protesters included singer Annie Lennox and Respect MP George Galloway.

Comedian Alexei Sayle has also added his support to the campaign to end violence.