Photostory: World demonstrates for GazaThe marchers included comedian Alexei Sale. 'As a Jew, it's very moving to see so many people who are outrages at Israel's actions,' Sayle said. 'Israel is a democratic country that is behaving like a terrorist organization.'
'Regardless what they say in this building (House of Commons), regardless what they say in Washington or the Hague, these are war crimes,' shouted Robert Assaly, an Anglican priest from Montreal who was a speaker at the rally.
The move was almost immediately met with largely unanimous international condemnation, with the United Nations hastily arranging an overnight emergency session and Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon calling for 'an immediate end' to the operation.
The United States also warned Israel in a statement that while it blamed Hamas for the tension, it had grown 'deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation' in Gaza as the tanks rolled in. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack added: 'We have expressed our concerns to the Israeli government that any military action needs to be mindful of the potential consequences to civilians... It is obvious a ceasefire should take place.'
In Europe there was hurried diplomacy. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: 'Unfolding events show the urgent need for the immediate ceasefire that we have called for.' Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said: 'The Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, while widely anticipated, will be greeted with horror around the world.'
