'When any community or country is a target for terrorism, this city will stand with them'

MAYOR'S WORDS AS HUNDREDS GATHER IN MOURNING AND SOLIDARITY AFTER DAYS OF VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL

- JAMES HOLT

HUNDREDS of people gathered in St Peter’s Square last night, embracing one another and cheering through tears to messages of support for the people of Israel after days of violence in the Middle East.

Placards reading ‘I stand with Israel’ and ‘no to the killing of Jews’ were raised overhead as a shattered community came together. The death toll in Israel has reached more than 1,200 people since an attack by Hamas on Saturday.

As UK and Israeli flags waved alongside each other in the wind the message from guest speakers was one of solidarity and unflinching unity.

The event was heavily policed, with roads closed through the centre of Manchester and a sea of high visibility jackets marking out the groups of GMP officers surrounding the crowds.

But counter-protesters also made their presence felt. Witnesses reported seeing one man who unfurled a Palestinian flag and was shouting ‘free Palestine’ to those stood nearby. After being asked to stop by police the man was seen being escorted away.

The poignant vigil was organised by the Jewish Leadership Council, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester.