**Thousands Rally in London to Support Gaza and Urge New Prime Minister to Act**
*London, UK – July 18, 2026* – Thousands of demonstrators gathered in London on Saturday to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and to call for immediate action from the incoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. The protest was organized in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has reportedly resulted in over 73,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023.
The march, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, featured participants chanting slogans and displaying placards advocating for Palestinian rights. Among the key demands was a call for Burnham to impose an arms embargo on Israel and to exert pressure on the Israeli government to end its siege and military actions in Gaza.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the growing global movement for justice and accountability regarding the situation in Gaza. "Three years of ongoing genocide – and the movement for justice and accountability, in Britain and worldwide, is growing louder and stronger," Zomlot stated in a post on social media platform X.
The protest comes at a pivotal moment as Andy Burnham is set to officially take office as the UK’s Prime Minister on Monday. His leadership follows a period marked by significant criticism of the Labour Party's handling of the Gaza conflict under outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Critics have accused Starmer's government of failing to take substantial action against Israel, despite allegations of war crimes. The Labour Party has faced backlash for what many perceive as a lack of meaningful response, with critics pointing to the government's continued arms sales to Israel.
The march also highlighted internal challenges facing Burnham as he assumes leadership, including a cost-of-living crisis, rising student debt, and a shortage of affordable housing. Additionally, the Labour Party has experienced a decline in membership, with some members leaving due to dissatisfaction with the party's stance on Gaza.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled from the party under Starmer's leadership, was present at the demonstration. Corbyn urged Burnham to take a decisive stance against what he termed the UK's complicity in genocide. "Thousands of us are in London today with a message to the new Prime Minister: we are not disappearing, we are not going away, and we will never stop campaigning for the liberation of Palestine. End Britain’s complicity in genocide, now," Corbyn declared in a post on X.
The protest reflects a broader sentiment among activists and supporters of Palestinian rights, who are increasingly vocal about their demands for governmental action and accountability regarding the ongoing conflict. As Burnham prepares to take office, he will likely face mounting pressure from both constituents and party members to address these pressing issues and respond to the calls for justice in Gaza.