TENS of thousands of people have protested in London today against Israel’s action in Gaza as reports claim the death toll has reached over 1,000.
Protesters march through London against Israel’s strikes on Gaza.[Getty]
Around 10,000 people joined the protest, according to police estimaes, but organisers believe the figure is much higher.
Carrying Palestinian flags and placards with slogans such as Stop the Killing and Free Palestine, the protesters chanted “Gaza don’t you cry, we will never let you die” and “Allahu Akbar” (god is great).
Today’s protest comes as Israel and Hamas are observing a 12-hour ceasefire.
Palestinian medical officials said the death toll in Gaza has now passed 1,000 over the past 19 days, mostly civilians.
And more than 6,000 people are also reported to have been injured since the Israeli air strikes began on July 8.
The march went from Israel’s Embassy in west London to Parliament Square. [Getty]
Palestinians used today’s reprieve to search through the rubble, with 85 bodies pulled out by medics in border areas of the Gaza Strip.
Minutes after the truce began at 8 am local time (5am GMT), many Gaza residents rushed out of their homes and lined up outside banks to withdraw cash.
Gaza City market was packed with people buying food and clothes for the coming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
On the edge of Gaza, Israeli soldiers regrouped as Israel’s defence minister warned he might soon expand the ground operation “significantly”.
Israel has lost 37 soldiers in the operation, while two Israeli civilians and a Thai migrant worker have been killed by Hamas rockets.