Protesters gathered at Downing Street to demand an end of arms sales to Israel after yet another Israeli atrocity, reports Clementine Russell

Following yet another Israeli strike killing dozens, this time on Al-Mawasi camp, which was deemed a ‘humanitarian zone’, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Downing Street on Wednesday. This strike only reconfirms the fact that nowhere is safe in Gaza. It is clear that Netanyahu’s priorities lie not in saving hostages or eradicating Hamas, as he claims, but in destroying as much of Gaza as possible, even in the wake of protests and strikes in Israel.

Netanyahu’s intentions are clearer than ever, making Keir Starmer and David Lammy’s lack of meaningful intervention even more frustrating. As we stood outside Downing Street, speakers, including Jeremy Corbyn and Chris Nineham, called for the government to stop all arms sales to Israel.

Although incredibly disheartening that another emergency protest has had to take place, the solidarity of the community was yet again a spark of hope in such a dark time. Despite the rain and the cold, we all gathered, regardless of faction, to stand up against the genocide in Gaza. The current confirmed death toll is almost 50,000, with tens of thousands feared missing under the rubble.

The sense of unity was strong, with kids running around holding their Palestinian flags high, protesters sharing food with each other and all of us chanting ‘Free Palestine’ along with the speakers.

The strike on Al-Mawasi, and Wednesday night’s protest only emphasise how important it is to come together as a community at the next national demonstration outside the Labour Conference in Liverpool on 21 September, followed by 5 October in London, as we mourn a year since Israel’s siege on Gaza began and fight for the government to end all arms sales to Israel and call for a permanent ceasefire.