UPDATE - Tens of thousands gather in London in solidarity with Palestinians

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Burak Bir and Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) – In solidarity with Palestinians, a huge rally was held in London on Saturday to protest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Protesters, who gathered at central Portland Place, shouted "Free Palestine" and demanded an immediate end to Israeli airstrikes and blockade on Gaza.

Organized by several groups, including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the demonstration took place under intense police presence as it was announced earlier that more than 1,000 police officers were deployed to ensure safety and orderly conduct of the rally.

The crowd later marched towards the prime minister's office on Downing Street as they decried the UK government's support for Israel.

They chanted slogans against Israeli occupation, carried Palestinian flags and signs, with some of them reading: "Freedom for Palestine," "Sanctions on Israel," and "Stop Arming Israel."

Magie Dunn, a protester, told Anadolu that what is happening in Gaza is "absolutely hearth broken."

"I absolutely, totally condemn what Israel is doing, (it) is just genocide," she said.

On the Israeli siege of Gaza with electricity and water cut off, Dunn said that this is a total punishment for 2.2 million people "who have nothing to do with Hamas."

That is why, she said, they gathered on the streets today to support Palestine as civilians in Gaza have no medicine, food, and power.

Criticizing the British government's stance, Dunn said that it does not speak for her and tens of thousands of people who gathered today.

Also speaking to Anadolu, another Palestinian supporter Ayman al-Halabi criticized international media for its over coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

He said that Western media turned blind eye to people in Gaza.

"We need justice, which is seems far away ...," he said, pointing out the 75-year long suffering of Palestinians.

The conflict between Palestine and Israel began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers' growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has faced a crippling siege since 2007, as well as ordering over 1 million people to evacuate northern Gaza in less than 24 hours.