Over 1,000 people filled the streets outside the Israeli embassy in London on Friday for an emergency protest against Israel’s starvation of the Palestinians, according to the Socialist Workers Party.

The rally opened with a powerful message from Northern Gaza. “The occupation wants to see the whole of Gaza wiped from the map. Families are lying on bare ground under the blazing sun with no food or shelter and no water.

“We are being butchered in cold blood. Do not let history record that you abandoned the people of Gaza. This is the call of humanity. Will anyone answer?”

Protester Nuala told Socialist Worker: “The Israeli embassy should be closed down after all the illegality and war crimes.”

“I’m a grandmother and the thought of children being starved. Medics have said that they go to Gaza and the only thing that is taken out of their luggage is baby formula—it’s sick”, she said.

“I’d like to do more. I really respect Palestine Action. When there are 600,000 of us marching there is no mention of it. But I think people do support us. People generally are disgusted. People are angry under the surface but nobody knows what to do”, she added.

Faisa spoke to Socialist Worker about the actions she is involved in with Youth Demand. She said, “I’ve been to a lot of protests—lots of emergency protests. We also go into the road and obstruct traffic. We need more collective action, not just action as individuals, to say ‘stop arming Israel’.”

On the same day United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres confirmed that there is a famine in Gaza, that it is a “man-made disaster” and a failure of humanity.

Shamiul Joarder from Friends of Al Aqsa told the crowd, “The UN says there is a famine and now everyone is listening. But Palestinians have been saying it for a long time and no-one listened. It’s time we started listening to the Palestinian people themselves.”

“If you are waiting for politicians to say there is a genocide—they won’t. We will be waiting for too long”, added Shamiul.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal said, “Just when it seemed there are no words left to describe the living hell that is Gaza, today a new one is formally added. Famine will threaten to kill at least half a million Palestinians unless a ceasefire is declared now.”

“Today, from our government, nothing but more empty words. David Lammy said he is morally outraged. But not so outraged that they won’t continue to sell weapons to Israel”, he added.

Ben called on people to protest in their thousands at the DSEI arms fair on 10 September where merchants of death will be trying to sell weapons “marketed as battle tested on Palestinians”.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 62,100 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s assault began in October 2023. The enclave has been left in ruins, with famine and mass displacement compounding the humanitarian catastrophe.