THOUSANDS marched through Cardiff at the weekend, blocking roads and the central rail station as they demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and justice for Palestinians.

Palestinian solidarity groups hailed the march as one of the biggest seen in Wales in decades as protesters gathered by Aneurin Bevan’s statue in the city centre.

Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj told the gathering crowds that the trade union movement in Wales “stands with those opposing anti-semitism and Islamophobia.

“We call on the UK government to lead the call for international law to be enforced and to call for a full ceasefire.”

Ms Taj reminded the crowd that the WTUC had written to First Minister Mark Drakeford “demanding he and the Welsh government back our call for a ceasefire.”

She also said that the Welsh Senedd had backed that call on Wednesday when it voted for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Thousands of Palestinians are losing their lives and it’s important that workers understand what is happening in Gaza,” Ms Taj said.

“As a Muslim woman and trade unionist, my heart is breaking at the scenes unfolding on television with thousands dying in Gaza.”

The union leader called out Home Secretary Suella Braverman for her inflammatory remarks about the peace protests, widely believed to have encouraged far-right groups to foment unrest on Remembrance Day.

The march through the streets of Cardiff halted outside the castle walls as a large section of the crowd sat down in the road to halt the Saturday traffic.

The thousands marching headed to Central Square and a mass rally outside the UK government’s office block and opposite BBC Wales headquarters.

African National Congress representative Doctor Kumaran Pillay brought greetings and solidarity from the ANC, saying Nelson Mandela had said: “The world will never be free until Palestine is free.”

Dr Pillay read one of his poems called From the River to the Sea: “From the river, To the sea, The babies, Will be free. From the river, To the sea, No more genocide, Will there be.

“From the river, To the sea, Palestine, Will be free!”