LONDON (EJP)---Thousands of British Jews rallied on Trafalgar Square in central London on Sunday to condemn Hamas terror and call for peace for the citizens of both Israel and Gaza.
Waving Israeli and British flags and carrying placards reading "End Hamas terror! Peace for the people of Israel and Gaza", demonstrators prayed in the shadow of Nelson's Column for peace as speakers demanded Hamas stop firing rockets at Israeli civilians.
The rally was organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BOD) and the Jewish Leadership Council with the support of major communal organisations
Speaking to London’s Jewish News magazine, Jeremy Newmark, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, had called on the ommunity to turn out in massive numbers “to underline the level of support for Israel in the UK.”
British Jews, like the vast majority of the British public are appalled at the actions of Hamas which are the ultimate cause of the deaths of innocent Palestinians and Israelis."
Henry Grunwald, president of BOD, Israel’s ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor, Britain’s Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and several MPs addressed the demonstrators, who chanted: "Yes to peace".
Police estimated the crowd at 4,000, but organisers claimed there was a surprisingly large turnout of 20,000 people.
"We are here because we want want peace and we want life, not only for the people of Israel but also for the people of Gaza," Grunwald told the crowd.
"No-one can fail to have been moved by the pictures coming out of Gaza. As human beings we all grieve for the innocent victims of this conflict."
The organisers of the rally said the number of Israeli deaths should not be considered disproportionate to the number of Palestinian deaths because Israelis were lucky enough to escape their houses before they were hit by Palestinian rockets.
Chief Rabbi Sacks said: "We are gathered today not in triumph but in tears. All it took to avoid this suffering was for Hamas to stop firing rockets on Israeli citizens.
"Let a voice go out today from here in Trafalgar Square... we want peace."
The crowd sang a well-known Hebrew prayer for peace in Israel and for all
the people on Earth.
"We say to those who criticise Israel: you want Palestinian children to grow up with hope; so do we," added Sacks. "We care for life. This is why we say to Hamas: stop killing the Palestinian future."
A group of counter-demonstrators lining the side of the square chanted throughout the rally, waving placards reading "We are all Hamas. Boycott Israel", "Israeli terrorist cowards" and "End the siege -- talk to Hamas".
The hour-long rally ended with the singing of the British and Israeli national anthems. A similar event was organized in Manchester's Albert Square.
On Friday evening, an hoax email purporting to be from the Board of Deputies was sent thousands of people throughout the community claiming the event had been scrapped.
It also stated the Board wanted an end to the Israeli operation and talks between Israel and Hamas. The email was apparently sent by a member of "Jews for Justice for Palestinians."
In recent days, a series of protests against Israel's operation in Gaza has taken place in London, witnessing clashes with police and the burning pf Israeli flags.
Members of the British Jewish community have been asked to write to their MPs to ensure decision-makers see a blanced view of the conflict.
Other pro-Israel rallies are scheduled on Sunday in Germany, notably in berlin, Munich and Frankfurt.