PALESTINE rights activists targeted Labour offices across England and Wales today over the party’s support for “Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza.”

The action comes ahead of the national day of action in London tomorrow.

Demonstrators chanted: “Labour Party, blood on your hands,” “Shame on you,” and “No more money for Israel’s crime” while protesting outside the party’s HQ in London.

Bus drivers and motorists honked their horns in support as they drove by.

Other protests took place in Manchester, Brighton, Bristol, Leeds, Machynlleth, Bridgend, Oxford and Sheffield.

Protesters expressed disappointment that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had failed to recognise the “international war crimes committed by Israel.”

In an interview with LBC in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, Sir Keir appeared to suggest that Israel has “the right” to withhold energy and water from Gaza.

A number of Labour councillors and members have resigned over the “horrifying” comments.

Protester Ezra, a Jewish woman from London who did not wish to give her last name, accused Sir Keir of exploiting anti-semitism for “personal and political gain.”

She said: “He has tried very hard recently to put out some statements to appease people but we see right through him.

“He can’t undo the damage he’s done already, he can’t undo the licence he has given Israel to commit war crimes and the damage he has done within the Jewish community.”

London Palestine Action activist Alia Malak said: “The atrocities in Gaza are taking place with the direct support of the UK government, a position which Labour has supported.

“It is absolutely urgent that Labour changes its position and joins calls for an immediate ceasefire now and an end to the arms trade with Israel.”

Organisers of Saturday’s protest said they have been told by the Met Police that the force will be issuing restrictions on the peaceful action, for which they gave “frankly unconvincing” explanations.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of al-Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said that “no attempts by government or police to undermine the protests will stop us or any of those who want to see an end to the killing in Palestine.”

“At a time when some in government are questioning people’s right to march against the terrible attacks on the Palestinian people, it is hard to see this as anything other than a further attempt to restrict freedom of protest,” they said in a statement.

Campaign group Cage has written to Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and National Police Chief’s Council chairman Gavin Stephens to challenge police forces’ “disproportionate approach” to pro-Palestine protesters.

The letter raises crucial questions about the connection between Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s instructions and discriminatory policing, challenging the police to “prioritise non-discriminatory practices over compliance with political directives.”

Some trade union leaders have expressed support for the protesters, with Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack among those who will be speaking at the rally.

Former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott will publish articles in the Morning Star tomorrow defending the right to protest, and calling for an immediate ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid.

Ms Abbott wrote: “The global majority supports the demands for peace and for justice.

“In the difficult days and even weeks ahead, we should remember that.”

And Socialist Labour Party leader Arthur Scargill has written to the Morning Star to call for unions to unite on condemning Israel, and demand sanctions and an end to arms supplies.

Sir Keir argued today that he had intended to say that Israel has the right to defend itself and retrieve the around 200 hostages being held “within international law.”

Downing Street said pro-Palestine marchers must be “free to peacefully express their views,” but police should “take the strongest action” where anti-semitism and other forms of hate are promoted, No 10 said.