London: Protesting against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, thousands of people here today demonstrated in front of the country's embassy.

Carrying anti-war placards, the demonstrators commenced their march from the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park before assembling at the Israeli Embassy in Kensington.

Meanwhile, protest marches were also held in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Belfast, Newcastle and Southampton for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Convener of "Stop the War" Lindsey German said it was a peaceful protest and hoped that there would be no repeat of the clashes with police that affected the demonstration in London last Saturday.

"We are calling for an end to the massacre and for Israel to get out of Gaza and Palestine," German said.

The convener added that "we want the British Government to take a much stronger position. There would have been outrage from governments around the world if this had happened anywhere else, the condemnation has been at best half-hearted."

"The British government and European Union have the economic leverage to stop this carnage. They must take decisive action to force Israel to end the slaughter," Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said in a statement.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews will also hold a rally calling for peace in Israel and Gaza at Trafalgar Square in central London tomorrow.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the conflict in Gaza is entering its third week.

According to reports, more than 800 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed in the ongoing war.

Source : PTI