HUNDREDS of demonstrators have marched through Glasgow for a rally in George Square in solidarity with Palestinians.
They arrived in the square waving flags and banners hours after council workers cleared a sea of broken glass and debris left by Rangers fans celebrating their club’s league title.
Ahead of the rally, lawyer Aamer Anwar tweeted that “1000s will gather peacefully with families & no alcohol, to protest the genocide of #Palestinians.
“We demand total respect by @policescotland & a facilitation of the democratic right to protest, we will not tolerate any double standards or excuses.”
Yesterday’s protest was organised by the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, who said in a social media statement the reasons for it were simple: “In the holy month of Ramadan, while fasting and dedicating their time to pray and worship God, the Palestinian families have been under constant attack by the Israeli government.
READ MORE: My family is being bombed in Palestine – and yet the West does nothing
“This has been going on for too long and it’s time we stand up for the innocent.
“We are here to stand up for them and stand up for the injustice in this world.”
The protest was one of a series in other major cities across the UK and Ireland this weekend in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Amjid Bashir, one of the organisers, told The National that people were being massacred in Gaza while others had their houses stolen from them. He said: “Settlers have been coming in supported by the Israeli forces and they have no right at all.
“Soldiers have come running into the mosque when people have been at their prayers during Ramadan, the holiest time of the year and that has inflamed so many people because that’s in their place of worship.
“That inflamed people and there was a lot of hurt in the community in Glasgow.
“People are generally upset and feeling helpless and sick and tired of the fact there seems to be double standards in the way the UN Security Council is dealing with the issue of Israel.”
Bashir added: “It seems the US is vetoing any kind of criticism about Israel.
“People are genuinely upset about what has happened.”
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