London marchers in Al-Quds Day parade blame tower block fire on ‘Zionists’
Protesters wave Hezbollah flags, call to ‘free Palestine,’ chant that Israel and Islamic State are one and the same
Marchers in the annual Al-Quds Day parade in London blamed “Zionists” for a fire in the low-income Grenfell Tower apartment complex that left 79 people presumed dead.
Hundreds marched Sunday afternoon behind the Palestinian flag and behind a flag of Hezbollah, which has been named in Britain as an illegal terror organization. Many marchers also carried paper versions of the Hezbollah flag. No effort was made by London police to stop them.
“This demonstration calls on justice for Grenfell. Some of the biggest supporters of the Conservative Party are Zionists. They are responsible for the murder of the people in Grenfell. The Zionist supporters of the Tory Party. Free, Free, Palestine!” one man shouted into a microphone during the march, according to the Jewish Chronicle.
Other chants included: “Zionists/ISIS [Islamic State group] are the same. Only difference is the name.”
Supporters on the parade route held up banners reading: “Zionism is Racism” and “We are all Hezbollah.”
Al Quds Day: "Zionist" corporations were responsible for #Grenfell pic.twitter.com/9ZuqZ8YnDb
— Zionist Federation (@ZionistFed) June 18, 2017
Al-Quds is the Muslim name for Jerusalem. The annual march is a call for the destruction of Israel.
Hundreds carrying Israeli flags attended a counter demonstration, and some marched along the parade route.
More than 15,000 people had petitioned London Mayor Sadiq Khan to stop the march from taking place.
