Hundreds attend London rally calling on Hamas to release hostages

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove addressed the 'solidarity' demonstration in London's Trafalgar Square

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  Members of the Jewish community attend a Solidarity Rally in Trafalgar Square in London. PA

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  Thousands called for the safe return of hostages and took to the streets to highlight the effect of the Hamas attacks on Israel. PA

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  Members of the Jewish community attend a Solidarity Rally in Trafalgar Square. PA

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  Several groups came together to organise the “solidarity rally”, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews. PA

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  Some carried Israeli flags while others held placards showing the faces of those taken hostage. PA

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  Thousands of people pack London's Trafalgar Square, Britain October 22, 2023 to demand the liberation of the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas in its incursion into southern Israel on October 7. REUTERS / Yann Tessier

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  Members of the Jewish community attend a Solidarity Rally in Trafalgar Square, central London, calling for the safe return of hostages and to highlight the effect of the Hamas attacks on Israel. Picture date: Sunday October 22, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Israel. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire

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  Members of the Jewish community attend a Solidarity Rally in Trafalgar Square. PA

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  Israeli flags and placards during a protest in support of Israel in London. AP

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  Thousands of people at London's Trafalgar Square demanded the liberation of the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas. PA

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  Communities Secretary Michael Gove told the rally that “Britain stands with Israel”. AP

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  Israeli supports show placards with the faces and names of people taken believed to be taken hostage and held in Gaza, during a protest in Trafalgar Square. AP

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A rally in central London on Sunday drew hundreds of people calling for the safe return of hostages by Hamas.

Several groups came together to organise the “solidarity rally”, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Many people in the crowd held signs that said “release the hostages” and chanted “bring them home”.

Others carried Israeli flags and placards showing the faces of those taken hostage.

Family members of those taken hostage spoke at the rally, as the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, thanked the king, the Prince of Wales and cross-party political leaders for their support after Hamas’s attack.

“It’s at a time such as this that we discover who our true friends are,” Rabbi Mirvis said.

“It’s at a time such as this that words do matter and to all our friends from whom so far we haven’t heard a single word, your silence is deafening. Words do matter.

“Sometimes we hear reference to both sides or the two sides, but we ourselves know there are indeed two sides. One is good and the other is evil.

"Israel uses her forces in order to protect her citizens while Hamas uses its citizens to protect its forces.

“Those who fail to condemn, condone. Those who refuse to call Hamas terrorists allow the legitimising of their brutal deeds.”

Communities Secretary Michael Gove told the rally that “Britain stands with Israel”.

“There are no words to describe the suffering of families who have seen their relatives butchered in front of them and relatives who live in hope that those who were living peacefully in their homes just two weeks ago and are now in a Hamas dungeon should be freed,” Mr Gove said.

“No words can sum up the evil of those responsible for these acts.

“But words matter and promises matter and the world made a promise 75 years ago: Never again.

Thousands of people at London's Trafalgar Square demand the liberation of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas. Reuters

“And what did we see a fortnight ago? The biggest most horrific slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust, carried out by terrorists; an act of evil, unparalleled evil and barbarism.

"We must stand together against it. We must stand for life. We must bring the hostages home.

“There is a difference between now and 1945 and that difference is the Jewish people have a home, they have a nation. That nation was born in the hope to uphold humanity's greatest virtues," Mr Gove said.

“The [Israeli military] are there to protect civilians. Hamas exist to slaughter civilians.

“It breaks my heart to know that there are Jewish children who must disguise their school uniform to hide the fact that they got to a Jewish school.

“It breaks my heart that there are students at our universities who must hide the Star of David around their neck, or that there are Jewish individuals who dare not wear the wear the kippah on our streets for fear of what might be done.

“Our Jewish community must be protected.

"And when we see people on our streets with posters celebrating paragliding killers, when we see terrorist flags waved, when we see chants which call for the elimination of the Jewish state, then we must be clear: Never again shall we see these words, these symbols, this hate.”