This follows daily protests of over a hundred outside the BBC, the nearest thing we have in Manchester to an Israeli embassy.

The mobilisation was greatest mosques and networks such as Manchester Muslim Association of Britain, Mosques across Manchester, Bolton, and Rochdale announced the demo or were leafleted. Collections have been held across the city raising £ thousands for aid for the Palestinians. Manchester's Palestinian and Arab communities are organising on a daily basis. They paid for the PA system, speaker van, and stage. 

Linda Clair from Manchester's Palestine Solidarity Committee opened the rally explaining that this 'Zionism is a secular political ideology, we are not campaigning against Jews, we are against the Palestinian peole being bombed' 

Labour in Manchester have swung behind the Palestinians. Tony Lloyd MP, chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party spoke, 'for the whole of Manchester in welcoming this protest march.

Bolton MP Brian Iddon told how he 'was in tears last year in Gaza when he saw a boy who had three limbs blown off.' ' It will get even worst if they invade by land', he warned. Brian chairs the all party parliamentary committee on Palestine. He made the point that "Hamas won fairly the democratic elections in Gaza'.

Cllr Afsal Khan welcomed all to Manchester's Albert Square. "This public Square is for events such as this' he said. Pat Carney as chair of Manchester City Labour party backed the demo and said, 'Obama was elected with a mandate for change, it is not enough for him to remain silent on Gaza'.

Lib Dem MP John Leech spoke and Lib Dem Clls joined the march. The The Green Party spokesman Peter Cranie was well received. 

'I am here to day with my daughter', said Coronation St star Julie Hessmondalth who plays 'Haley'. "What is happening to the people of Gaza must be stopped' she said.

The Zionist charge of anti-Semitism was broken as six orthodox Jews walked from Salford to join the demo wearing Palestinian scarves. Their Rabbi spoke from the platform without amplification. His message was read aloud to cheers when he said that, 'all the problems and violence is caused by the Zionist State, until it is dismantled there can be no peace in the region". A Christian minister who chairs Manchester's inter faith group led a prayers with the Sheik from Didsbury mosque.

Trade Unionists marched with us although most people were not back at work. The PCS Civil Servants union national vice-president Sue Bond spoke of how, 'the so called Hamas infra-structure being bombed are workplaces where civil servants work, the sort of place our members work in Britain. The PCS is affiliated to both Stop the War and Palestine Solidarity Campaign so we back this demonstration' she said.

Manchester's NUJ organiser Jennie Lennox spoke of how 'journalists are barred from doing their job of telling the story of what is going on as we are barred from entering Gaza.' She also pointed out that "the way the Palestinians are being treated has been compared by some to the way the Nazis treated the Jews. But the Nazis have not gone away. They are standing in the Euro elections next June, and every one must vote to make sure they do not get elected from The North West to the European Parliament."

Manchester Trades Council brought their banner, firefighter and regional FBU secretary Kevin Brown who has been on a delegation to Rammalah  joined the demo as did Karen Reissman from Manchester Community Health UNISON branch.

Speaker Mohammad Abdul Malik was sharply critical of the Fatah leader Mohhaed Abbaz for 'helping Israel targeting the killings in Gaza.'

A ten year old girl spoke with great affect of 'her cousins in Gaza who are being bombed every day.

The independent socialist candidate Michael Lavellete was cheered when he attacked Bush, promoted twinning with Palestinian towns, and the demonstration in Preston to be held on Sunday. George Galloway sent a message of support delivered Dr Kay Phillips from Respect.

Overall the demonstration showed that all of Manchester stands opposed to the bombing and the siege of Gaza.

Report by Mark Krantz, 

(additions will be added to this report as they are sent in)

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