Palestinian media is reporting on a London demonstration organized by the U.K Muslim Brotherhood and allied far-left groups held outside the Israeli Embassy to protest Israeli actions in Gaza. According to a Palestine News Network report:
Palestine Solidarity Campaign said in a press release, over 3000 protesters crammed into the street opposite the Israeli Embassy in London today (17 November) to condemn Israel’s attack on Gaza. The protest, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Palestinian Forum in Britain and CND, heard speakers reflecting the diversity and strength of public opinion in support of Palestinian rights. Glyn Secker from Jews for Justice for Palestinians received huge applause when he spoke to the crowd – Glyn also acted as captain of the Jewish Boat to Gaza which attempted to break the blockade on Gaza in 2010 and was violently intercepted by Israeli forces. Sarah Colborne, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “We are insisting that the British Government uphold international law and human rights and tells Israel to end its war now. 39 Palestinians have been killed so far and over 390 have been wounded. Israel’s war on Gaza has to stop.” Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian General Delegate to the UK, told the crowd: “What is our crime? It is to want freedom and an end to the occupation, blockade and abuse of our human rights. When will Israel understand that we are people seeking our freedom and our self-determination? Jeremy Corbyn MP said: “Where else would the EU tolerate the imprisonment of elected Parliamentarians? We need to see the end of the EU’s preferential trade agreement with Israel and we need to see an end to the arms trade with Israel. Yet the West are standing idly by whilst civilians are being bombed.
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The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) had for many years been the most active organization in the U.K Muslim Brotherhood. Many of the leaders of the MAB left in 2007 to form the British Muslim Initiative (BMI). According to an Israeli think-tank report, the breakup appeared to be the result of a conflict between traditionalists in the MAB who were unhappy with the high level of involvement in U.K left-wing politics while those who who formed the BMI wished such activity to continue. Anas Al-Tikriti, the leader of the BMI, and former MAB official, is the son of Osama Al-Tikriti, one of the leaders of the Iraqi Islamic Party representing the Muslim Brotherhood in that country. The Stop The War Coalition, the CND, and the Palestine Solidarity Committee are far-left groups that frequently acts in coalitions with the UK Muslim Brotherhood while the Palestinian Forum in Britain is another part of the U.K Muslim Brotherhood.