Hundreds of protesters in UK urge US vice president to call for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

LONDON (AA) - Hundreds of demonstrators on Wednesday gathered in front of UK government offices in Downing Street, urging visiting US Vice President Kamala Harris to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The pro-Palestine rally came at a time when Harris visited Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Harris was in London to attend an AI safety summit organized by the UK government.

The protesters shouted pro-Palestine slogans and urged the vice president to act for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, where more than 8,000 people were killed under heavy Israeli bombardments and land incursions.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,300 people have since been killed in the conflict, including at least 8,796 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.

Besides the large number of casualties and displacement, basic supplies are running low for the 2.3 million residents in Gaza due to the Israeli siege.