MORE than 100,000 Palestine protesters marched through London on Saturday in the capital’s 21st national mobilisation since Israel’s slaughter of the people of Gaza began in October last year.

Hundreds also took to the streets in other major centres including Manchester, where Palestinians led and addressed the city’s weekly march and rally.

With just days to go before the United States’ presidential election, the London march targeted the US embassy, where Palestine supporters set up an encampment in September in a permanent protest against Washington’s “unwavering support” for Israel.

Marchers also staged a “die-in” outside 10 Downing Street and left toys in memory of slaughtered Palestinian children.

Reports from Gaza said that 50 children were killed in Israeli attacks on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza at the weekend.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) deputy director Simon Foster said: “The need for all of us to not only continue marching but also escalate our campaigns for an end to this genocide were made clearer than ever this week.

“Israel has expanded its extermination of Palestinians in northern Gaza. Israeli forces have advanced into this area, effectively blocking the only three entrances and imposing a siege that has included heavy air strikes and shelling, particularly targeting what is left of the Jabalia refugee camp. 

“Against this backdrop of unrelenting and escalating war crimes, Israel has attempted to avoid accountability by passing legislation to dismantle UNRWA [the United Nations Relief & Work Agency for Palestine].”

The agency was established in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees driven from their homes when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

It employs 30,000 Palestinians and is responsible for most international aid to Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Saturday was the 107th anniversary of the 1917 Balfour Declaration, a British government statement that declared that Palestine would become a homeland for people of the Jewish faith.

Speakers at the London march and rally included Leeds East MP Richard Burgon, Poplar & Limehouse MP Apsana Begum, Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, Palestinian actor and writer Sarah Agha, Palestinian activist Hamza Stitan, Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German and PSC director Ben Jamal.

Mr Foster appealed for donations to maintain and increase the momentum of the PSC campaign.