THOUSANDS have taken part in a Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign protest outside BBC Scotland at Pacific Quay, in Glasgow, and at Edinburgh Waverley train station.
The demonstration began with a sit-down protest at Glasgow Central Station, before the crowd made their way to the BBC broadcasting studio.
Footage posted by Socialist Worker on Twitter/X shows videos of the crowd marching and chanting.
Welcoming participants to the station, one volunteer said: “We’re here today because the government we’ve got is siding with genocide, we’re here in solidarity with the Palestinian state. We’re here because we oppose the genocide, the massacre, and the hospital bombings, and the oppression of the Palestinians.”
Hundreds of protesters sat in the main waiting area of the Glasgow station, chanting “ceasefire now” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
🇵🇸More footage from the Glasgow station #FreePalestine sit-in https://t.co/8E04JQQUBw pic.twitter.com/SxTeumxHUf
— Socialist Worker (@socialistworker) November 4, 2023
When marching to the BBC, chants could be heard: “1,2,3,4, occupation no more, 5,6,7,8 Israel is a terror state."
A protest has also been held at Edinburgh Waverley train station.
Waverley Station, Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/Yb0DD2rDF5
— Ross McKenzie (@rsmcksg) November 4, 2023
Edinburgh Waverley Station now#Genocide_in_Gaza #CeasefireNOW @scottishpsc @PSCupdates pic.twitter.com/ak1dvAyWPz
— Johanna Ross (@shottlandka) November 4, 2023
It comes as Israeli troops are advancing towards Gaza City, as the Palestinian death toll rose above 9000.
SNP MP Tommy Sheppard took to the stage in Edinburgh where a pro-Palestine rally was being held. He concluded his speech with: "We must redouble our efforts to change the policy in this country, and the policy throughout Europe, to ensure Palestine rights are recognised, and their human rights and political rights are upheld.
"So, it is a very dark hour that we meet today. There is a lot to do, and things are quite desperate, but I want to work with you in building the broadest possible coalition to demand a ceasefire, to stop the war, and to get justice for Palestine."
More than 3700 Palestinian children have been killed in 25 days of fighting, and bombings have driven more than half the territory’s 2.3 million people from their homes, while food, water and fuel run low.
Israeli troops pushed into Gaza in larger numbers over the weekend after three weeks of heavy air strikes that have demolished entire neighbourhoods.
The war, the fifth and by far deadliest in Gaza, began when Hamas launched a bloody rampage into Israel on October 7, killing hundreds of men, women and children. Some 240 were taken captive.
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrations were also scheduled for City Square, Dundee; St Nicholas Square, Aberdeen; High Street, Forres; top of The Mound, Edinburgh; Mercat Cross, Dunfermline, and the steps in front of The Thistles, Stirling.
