PROTESTERS will join forces today for a major national demonstration calling for a halt to the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

More than 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative, the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will rally along the Embankment in London calling for an end to the death and destruction.

More than 400 Gazans have been killed and some 1,700 have been wounded since Israel embarked on its aerial campaign a week ago.

Israel launched the offensive after more than a week of intensive Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel that followed the expiration of a six-month truce. Despite calls from the international community for a ceasefire, the conflict has only intensified.

Rabbi Neil Amswych, from Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, said: “Israel faces a constant attack of missiles from Gaza but these are very rarely reported in the popular press.

“Every state has the right to defend itself from attack and we must not forget that this action by Israel is a response to aggression, not the other way round.

“Military action is tragic and must be the last resort. Unfortunately, Hamas ended the current cease-fire and is using civilians as human shields, something which I find to be morally reprehensible.”

He said those marching in London had failed to come up with any other “creative solutions” to halt the violence against Israel.

He added: “Violence breeds violence. This will harden another generation of terrorists.

“There is a difference between the relationship between many Israelis and Palestinians and that between Jews and Muslims living in Bournemouth. Bournemouth Reform Synagogue and the Bournemouth Islamic Centre have a very strong relationship, even in times of crisis.”

Majid Yasin, director of Bournemouth Islamic Centre, said: “I condemn what the Israelis are doing. Over 100 people have been killed and 2,000 injured. Enough is enough.

“I would like to ask Gordon Brown and other European leaders to step in. There has been enough bloodshed.”

The Prime Minster and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, have led British calls for an end to the violence. A cross-party coalition of MPs is also demanding a ceasefire from both sides.

The campaign to crush rocket fire on southern Israel has been conducted largely from the air so far but an Israeli military spokeswoman has announced that preparations for a ground operation were complete.

Britain is providing emergency aid worth £7 million to provide urgently-needed food and fuel to the Gaza Strip.