Protesters gathered in the town centre in support of the Palestinian people amid the ongoing conflict with Israel in Gaza.  

Demonstrations are being organised around the country today urging the UK Government to help end the violence.  

At 2.30pm this afternoon, demonstrators met at the fountain with flags and banners reading “Solidarity with Palestine,” “Free Palestine” and “Hands off Gaza”.  

One protester Peter Smith, from Swindon, said: “I’m here for a number of reasons really. What we’re seeing in Palestine is a cycle of violence from the Israeli state. 

“It obviously goes back a long way. It’s an ethnic cleansing of the people who live there.” 

He added: “There are big demonstrations around the country, and I think just pushing into people’s consciousness in Swindon is really important.” 

One woman who wished not to be named said: “It’s something we all feel very strongly about and if it had been possible, I would have been in London. So, it’s great that something is happening locally as well. 

“I want to raise awareness of the fact that we’ve got a nation that is their homeland and they’ve been completely annexed, and they are suffering, and I don’t think awareness is out there as it should be.” 

Some joined the group to show their opposition to the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill.

Thousands of people have gathered at Hyde Park to march to the Israeli embassy.  

Palestinian ambassador to the UK Husam Zumlot, said: “This time is different. This time we will not be denied any more. We are united. We have had enough of oppression. Today we are saying enough, enough with the complicity. Thank-you for standing with us.” 

It comes as the Associated Press reported that an Israeli air strike destroyed a high-rise building that housed the AP, Al-Jazeera and other media in the Gaza Strip. 

The AP said the attack came roughly an hour after the Israeli military ordered people to evacuate the building. 

Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee from their homes after a week of sustained conflict. 

Since Monday night, Palestinian militant group Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, whose military responded by bombarding the Gaza Strip with tank fire and air strikes.