The Israeli military's attack on the Free Gaza Flotilla has sparked demonstrations in London today. Even before the massacre, there were demonstrations outside 10 Downing Street demanding freedom of passage for the aid ships. 

Following the bloody raid, which killed at least 10 activists (reports are currently unclear), demonstrators began gathering at 11am today, with both the Stop the War Coalition and ISM London calling a protest for 2pm today at Downing Street.

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The Freedom Flotilla is part of a recent wave of activism highlighting the brutal conditions faced by the people of the Gaza Strip.  Gaza has now been facing a blockade of essential supplies since the 2007 election of Hamas.  British diplomat John Holmes, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said last year that less than 25% of the minimum necessary supplies are making it into Gaza every day due to the blockade maintained by the occupying Israeli forces.

The Israeli armed forces have a history of unprovoked attacks on unarmed activists acting in solidarity with the people of Palestine. During the last major wave of pro-Palestinian solidarity activism, in 2003-2004, Israeli forces repeatedly killed unarmed activists and journalists covering the occupation. As the Israeli foreign office has already claimed that the peace activists on board the aid ships attacked Israeli commandos, it's worth remembering that they were less than truthful about the circumstances around at least 3 separate killings of international activists and a journalist: Rachel Corrie, Tom Hurndall, Brian Avery, and James Miller.