Estimated numbers of protesters at Saturday’s national pro-Palestine rally are in the thousands as activists in Scotland are continuing marches amid ongoing ceasefire processes in the Middle East.
Protesters gathered in Glasgow’s city centre on Buchanan Street following a procession from Glasgow Green.
Key speakers at the demonstration included Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot, a Palestinian diplomat and ambassador to the UK. Zomlot is also a significant member of Fatah. This organisation is also known as The Palestinian National Liberation Movement, which has previously carried out attacks against civilians.
Also present at the protest were several Scots who were on board ships as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The flotilla was arranged by an international group of 440 pro-Palestine activists from over 40 countries, with the goal of peacefully transporting humanitarian supplies and aid to Gaza.
One Scot aboard was James (Jim) Hickey, who was released from an Israeli prison just days prior to his speech at Saturday’s demonstration.
He has accused the Israeli military of deploying “psychological warfare” tactics on the crews of the Sumud flotilla, after he alleged the use of drones overhead during the early hours while onboard.
He spoke at the protest alongside fellow activists from the flotilla and from Scottish Palestine solidarity groups.
This comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer has threatened a crackdown on chants used by pro-Palestine protesters, following criticism from the Jewish community after the attack on a synagogue in Manchester on October 2nd, which has been linked to rising anti-semitism.
