Bristol parents hold protest with pupils for Gaza children

A group of parents has organised a protest "for children of Gaza" that it says will be held every Friday until a ceasefire is called in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The Bristol parents say they want "school-age children to come together and peacefully protest".

The first protest took place on earlier outside Bristol City Council.

One of the parents, Noman Sheikh, said: "I've come here to show solidarity to the people of Palestine."

"People are dying for no reason," he added. "It's not acceptable at all what's happening."

• Follow live: Latest updates
• Explained: What is happening in Israel and Gaza, and why now?
• History behind the story: The Israel-Palestinian conflict

Israel launched an aerial campaign campaign and ground offensive in Gaza after Hamas, which runs the Palestinian enclave and which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, carried out an attack in southern Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people.

The Israeli military says that more than 200 people who were also abducted are still being held hostage in Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 9,000 people have been killed there since Israel launched its military response.

A pupil also added: "I think we should do a ceasefire and the UK should do something about what is happening."

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