Among those present on the day was Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell, disgraced reverend Stephen Sizer, former Labour politician Clare Short, Irish nationalist Jim Curran, with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as a surprise guest.
John McDonnell MP helps to carry a banner during a demonstration commemorating 'Nakba Day', May 13, 2023
Jim Curran with a poster that says "Nakba was a Holocaust". He also held a sign that read "No border in Ireland, no border in Palestine", May 13 (Credit: Twitter)
A man funeral tolling while towing a casket that bears the words "Palestinians + Britons murdered by Zionists and the racist, apartheid state of Israel", May 13, 2023
'Nakba Day' protesters, May 13, 2023
Also present were Palestine solidarity groups from Sheffield, Coventry, Whittington, Lambeth & Wandsworth, along with representatives from Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Amnesty International, Palestinian Youth Movement, Stop the War, Just Stop Oil, Socialist Appeal, National Education Union Bristol, Pax Christi, University and College Union, Neturei Karta, Jewish Socialists Group and Jewish Voice for Labour.
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'Nakba Day' protesters with fists in the air, May 13, 2023
'Nakba Day' protesters with a "Israel is a terrorist state" sign, May 13, 2023
A man wears a 'Free Palestine' headband at London's 'Nakba Day' demonstration, May 13, 2023
Amnesty UK's "Country Co-ordinator for Israel-Palestine", Garry Ettle, who has made controversial remarks in the past and who called Israel’s policies towards Gaza a “slow holocaust” in a 2020 Facebook message, was present and taking part.
Garry Ettle, Amnesty UK's 'Country Co-ordinator for Israel-Palestine', holds a "Friends of al-Aqsa" placard, May 13, 2023 (Credit: Twitter)
The chants “there is only one solution, intifada revolution”, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “one, two, three, four, occupation no more, five, six, seven, eight, Israel is a terrorist state” echoed outside the Prime Minister’s office as socialist flyers and reading material was distributed.
Posters calling for the “dismantlement of the Zionist state apparatus” and “Victory to the intifada”, “Break from the Zionist Labour Party” and “Zionism is racism” (Credit: Twitter)
'Jewish Voice for Labour' at Saturday's 'Nakba Day' demonstration, May 13, 2023
'Nakba Day' protesters, May 13, 2023
Fewer than the scheduled 23 speakers ended up speaking at the rally, but included were representatives from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of al-Aqsa, the National Education Union, and the University and College Union.
One speaker, Delia Mattis, who also spoke on Quds Day as a representative of Black Lives Matter UK, claimed Israel stands for “white supremacy”, that Zionism is “a psychotic ideology”, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is a “puppet” and “an agent of white supremacy”.
Almut, 31, student and member of the Socialist Party, told the JC the march had begun outside the BBC’s offices because the broadcaster "is complicit in Israeli terror” and has “an unfair, pro-Israel bias.”
Illustration alleging that CNN and the BBC prioritise coverage of "Israeli tears" over slain Palestinians (Credit: Twitter)
A poster that likens Zionism to facism and Nazism, May 13, 2023 (Credit: Twitter)
Jeremy Corbyn, who is no longer able to stand in the next General Election as a candidate for Labour, said: “We are here to demand full, immediate, and unconditional recognition of Palestine,” and “to support the Palestinian people whose indomitable spirit is an inspiration to millions around the world,
“We’re going to be here again and again, and again. And for those who think that we’re going to go away, dream on and sink on,” Corbyn added.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: Handout)
The event was organised by the Friends of al-Aqsa (FOA), the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Muslim Association of Britain, and the British-Palestinian Forum.
To Palestinians, Nakba – or “catastrophe” – was the forced displacement of up to 750,000 people during and shortly after Israel’s 1948 War of Independence after it was invaded by several neighbouring Arab countries.
