Gaza Strip demonstrators on the steps of St Lukes Church _320
THOUSANDS of Merseyside protesters against the Israeli offensive in Gaza joined demonstrators across the country on Saturday.
As Israel continued its ground attacks, around 2,000 protesters gathered at St George’s Plateau to hear speeches against the offensive.
Angry protesters waved placards with the names of Palestinian children killed in the attacks and shouted anti-Israeli chants.
Merseyside’s branch of Stop the War Coalition organised the protest which began with a peace vigil at St Luke’s (the bombed-out church) in Berry Street.
Mark Holt, chair of Stop the War Coalition, said: “We condemn Israel’s barbaric onslaught against the poor, defenceless people of Gaza.
“The strength of feeling was shown by the tremendous support we saw on Saturday; we only expected a couple of hundred and around 2,000 turned up.
“Two-thirds were people from the Muslim community and there were supporters from Liverpool Friends of Palestine and CND, who helped organise the protest.”
He added: “An Israeli government spokesman said they were doing exactly what other governments would do if the same situation happened to them.
