MORE than 200 children and parents blockaded the Conservative Party’s London headquarters today to demand Prime Minister Rishi Sunak back a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Parents for Palestine campaign group delivered an open letter voicing their demand, signed by more than 12,000 parents including singer Paloma Faith.

The letter demanded the government end British arms sales to Israel, use diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire and work to secure a lasting peace and an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine. 

More than one million children in Gaza are in the line of fire, with Israel now heavily bombing southern Gaza — including Rafah and Khan Younis — having previously ordered evacuation to these cities from the North, the campaign group highlighted.

Monday’s protest came as MPs were due to debate a petition calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the occupation.

Kate Joseph of Parents for Palestine said: “We cannot imagine the pain and fear that parents in Gaza are going through. 

“As parents, we demand that the British government immediately ends arms sales to Israel and calls for a ceasefire.

“How are we to explain to our children that our government is actively endorsing the murder of thousands of children in Palestine? 

“That we are exporting bombs and refusing to call for a ceasefire? For the sake of all children everywhere, the siege on Gaza must end and the occupation must end.” 

Parents for Palestine’s protests have included the delivery of hundreds of teddy bears and other children’s toys representing murdered Palestinian children to the Foreign Office in October.

The group also invaded the offices of BAE Systems in November, pushing baby buggies into the building and releasing black balloons, each representing 100 dead Palestinian children.