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Pro-Palestinian rallies held in Londonderry and Belfast

BBC A crowd walking down a street holding Palestinian flags (Green, white, black and red in colour). Some people have drums and signs. Others have PRESS written on their tops.BBC
The rally in Londonderry started in the Waterside area of the city

Pro-Palestinian protesters held demonstrations in Belfast and Londonderry on Saturday.

More than a thousand people made their way to the Guildhall Square in Londonderry.

Meanwhile, in a separate rally in Belfast, a crowd made its way from Writers Square to BBC Broadcasting House on Ormeau Avenue.

Demonstrations follow the Israeli government's approval of a new Gaza ceasefire and a hostage release deal with Hamas, which is due to come into effect on Sunday.

Israeli air strikes continued in Gaza, with the civil defence agency saying 116 Palestinians have been killed since the deal was first announced on Wednesday.

"We just want peace now," a displaced Palestinian woman living in Buncrana, County Donegal, told BBC News NI.

Majida Al Askri said 32 of her relatives have died since the war in Gaza began.

Speaking at the Derry demonstration, she said: "We are living in hope that the ceasefire will last and be in place forever."

Majida Al Askri looks forward. She has a white head scarf on and a black and white palestinian keffiyeh on her neck. She is wearing a black blazer with a shamrock badge on it.
Majida Al Askri says 32 of her relatives have died since the war in Gaza began

"We are marching through the streets of Derry today in solidarity with everyone going through the pain like my family," Majida Al Askri said.

"It's overwhelming to see the people on the streets here. They have continuously been coming out to show support because they understand civil rights.

"I live by my phone daily for news updates and phone calls. This is my life. It's full of pain and hurt for the people I lost and many family members are still missing. I fear they are also dead."

A crowd outside a light stone building holding Palestinian flags. One person is standing up on the wall taking a picture.
A rally was also held in Belfast, with crowds outside the BBC's Belfast headquarters

Ms Al Askri told BBC News NI at the start of the rally that she was "reminded of the horror daily when I speak on the phone to my niece's 3-year-old adopted son who says he doesn't want to die like the other children in his tent".

"These are our children," she added.

"We need people to shout about it and we need people to pray with us in hope that this ceasefire will last and that promises will be kept forever.

"We have been let down and failed so much. It brings tears to my eyes. I would like to see more detail shared about the ceasefire too."

Mohyeddin Obeid smiles as he stands in front of a group of people. The group are holding Palestine flags. Obeid has on a grey woollen hat and black jacket with a black hoodie underneath.
Mohyeddin Obeid says many of his family members, including his father, have died in Gaza

Mohyeddin Obeid has lived in Londonderry for two and a half years, having moved from Gaza.

He said many of his family members, including his father, have died in Gaza.

"I hope it stops. I'm glad for this ceasefire, there are so many children over there with nobody to help them, no schools, no hospitals, no medicine and nothing to stop it," Mr Obeid added.

Catherine Hutton smiles as she stands in front of a group of people. One person is holding a Palestine flag. Catherine has black glasses and short brown hair. She is wearing a black and white palestinian keffiyeh.
Catherine Hutton organised the rally

Chairperson of the Derry branch of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign group, Catherine Hutton, said she organised the rally to "fight for a just and lasting peace".

"We desperately hope that there will be a full cessation of violence," she told BBC News NI.

"Activists around the world must exert all the pressure they can on their governments to hold Israel to account and stop the violence.

"We must play our part in giving the people of Gaza hope."

Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as hostages.

The attack triggered a massive Israeli offensive on Gaza, during which more than 46,800 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The decision to approve the new ceasefire deal came on Friday night, after hours of discussions.

Two far-right ministers voted against the deal