Hours after Israel attacked the Freedom Flotilla on 31 May, FRFI supporters joined thousands of people protesting in London. The demonstration began outside Downing Street before marching to the Israeli embassy

The murderous assault by Israeli commandos on the Gaza aid convoy on 31 May is the latest act of a fascist, barbaric Zionist state. The Gaza Freedom Flotilla was carrying humanitarian aid to the Gazan people kept on the verge of starvation by Israel’s continuing blockade. The fact that Israeli forces attacked the ships 40 miles out to sea shows Israel's utter contempt for international law. Their claim that they were fired upon first will be proven a complete fiction to justify acts of cold-blooded murder.

As of today (1 June), the number of dead had been confirmed as nine. The Flotilla comprised six ships which were carrying over 700 activists and 10,000 tons of desperately needed humanitarian aid for Gaza, aid that included building materials, educational, 500 wheelchairs and medical supplies. Setting off from Cyprus on Sunday 30 May, it was still in international waters when Israeli naval vessels surrounded it as it approached the coast of Gaza. After the massacre the Israeli navy commandeered the Flotilla and forced it to sail into the Israeli port of Ashdod. The kidnapped activists, including 28 from Britain, are being held incommunicado so that they cannot disprove the Israeli lies.

Thousands have taken to the streets in Istanbul and across the Middle East in angry protests. Inside Israel, Palestinian organisations have called a general strike for Tuesday 1 June following the news that Sheik Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement inside Israel, was seriously injured in the attack. In Britain, there were protests in London – there were thousands outside Downing Street who then marched to the Israeli Embassy. FRFI supporters also took part in protests in Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Other protests are taking place today.

The massacre makes it clear that the Zionist state will do anything to prevent the siege of Gaza being broken, and that it regards itself as above any international law. US and British responses have pointedly avoided any condemnation of the Israeli action, and between them they managed to ensure that the resolution passed by the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was toothless.

Palestinian organisations in Gaza have issued a call for protests in support of the Flotilla and against Israel and its actions, a call that Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! fully supports.

‘We Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and International activists call on the international community and civil society to pressure their governments and Israel to cease the abductions and killings in Israel’s attacks against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sailing for Gaza, and begin a global response to hold Israel accountable for the murder of foreign civilians at sea and illegal piracy of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza…We, from Gaza, call on you to demonstrate and support the courageous men and women who went on the Flotilla, many now murdered on a humanitarian aid mission. We insist on severance of diplomatic ties with Israel, trials for war crimes and the international protection of the civilians of Gaza. We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign of a country proving again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged.’

End the siege of Gaza!

Isolate the Zionist state!

Boycott Israeli goods!

Free, free Palestine!

Make your protest outside Marks and Spencer in Oxford Street, London, this Thursday evening

Weekly picket of M&S: next one this Thursday, 6-8pm, Oxford Street store (nearest tube: Marble Arch)