MERSEYSIDE’S branch of Stop the War Coalition will hold a vigil and march tomorrow to call for an end to hostilities in Gaza.

A vigil will be held at St Luke’s (the bombed-out church) in Berry Street, Liverpool, at noon, followed by a march to St George’s Plateau at 1pm, where there will be a number of speeches.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown added his voice to international calls for an immediate end to the violence in the Gaza Strip, as both sides in the conflict intensified their fire.

Audrey White, of Stop the War Coalition, said: “Merseyside people will show their horror at what’s happening. We want to get as many people as possible to come along to show the strength of feeling.”

Stop the War believes Israel’s action is disproportionate and amounts to collective punishment.

Mr Brown said: “It is vital moderation must now prevail – there’s a humanitarian crisis. We have now set aside $10m of aid, so that will happen.

“I have some indication that aid is now getting through. Of course, the second thing we’ve got to do is secure an immediate and urgent ceasefire.”

Yesterday, Israel assassinated Hamas strongman Nizar Rayan by dropping a one-ton bomb on his house, also killing two of his wives and four of his children.

This first assault on the top leadership of Gaza’s ruling group escalated a crushing aerial offensive as Israel declared itself ready to launch a ground invasion.

While turning up the heat on the battlefield, Israel appeared to be sounding out a possible diplomatic exit from its campaign, demanding international monitors as a key term of any future truce with Gaza militants.

The operation is meant to crush Gaza militants who have been terrorising southern Israel with increasingly menacing rocket fire.

More than 400 Gazans have been killed and some 1,700 wounded since Israel embarked on its aerial campaign

davidbartlett