Hundreds of demonstrators have congregated inside prominent train stations to express their opposition to Israel’s halting of a convoy carrying aid to Gaza. The protestors were seen at Edinburgh Waverley and in Glasgow as they focused on the UK railway system in reaction to Israel detaining members of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Numerous demonstrations were scheduled at stations throughout the UK railway network on Thursday evening following the Israeli military’s intervention with the flotilla and apprehension of its participants while it was in international waters earlier in the day.
An eyewitness in Edinburgh informed The Herald that the British Transport Police were swiftly overwhelmed and faced challenges as the crowds obstructed the station’s main platforms. “Commuters attempting to pass through had to signal police officers to clear a narrow pathway,” the eyewitness stated.
Simultaneously in Glasgow, over 100 individuals gathered for a rally at Nelson Mandela Place on Thursday afternoon, organized by Mothers Against Genocide Scotland. Demonstrations have erupted worldwide in response, with gatherings in Italy, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico. Protesters were seen banging pots and pans while chanting “intercept our fleet, we take the streets.” Notably, four Scottish activists—Jim Hickey, Sid Khan, Margaret Pacetta, and Yvonne Ridley—were amongst those detained by Israel.
The pro-Palestinian Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising more than 40 civilian vessels, aims to deliver humanitarian aid to the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip. Israeli naval forces intercepted several aid-carrying boats earlier in the day. Greta Thunberg, a prominent activist, was among those detained by Israel, as depicted in a video from the Israeli foreign ministry verified by Reuters. The flotilla includes around 500 individuals, including politicians, activists, and legal professionals. Noteworthy figures on the flotilla include Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Zwelivelile Mandela.
The activist group Global Movement to Gaza UK has announced a planned demonstration in Parliament Square this evening, advocating for an end to the Gaza blockade, the release of the “flotilla hostages,” cessation of arms sales to Israel, and the decolonization of Palestine. They have also arranged a protest in Bristol and issued a nationwide call to “take to the streets for Gaza.”
In Belfast, BDS Belfast organized a protest earlier in the day, with activists blocking a major road while waving Palestinian flags, as detailed by Irish News. The Foreign Office expressed concern in a statement, stating, “We are closely monitoring the situation with the Sumud flotilla and are in contact with the families of several British citizens involved.”
