Protesters storm Salford government building demanding end to Gaza conflict

Protesters stormed a government building in Greater Manchester this morning (December 22) demanding an end to 'British complicity' in the fighting in Gaza. Around 20 people holding banners and flags entered the lobby of Three New Bailey in Salford where HMRC is based.

After entering the tax office, the demonstrators displayed a sign saying 'British government is complicit in Gaza genocide and chanted 'ceasefire now'. Police were called to the protest at around 8.40am, but no arrests were made as people left soon after being asked.

HMRC says there was no impact on business operations. It comes as the war enters its 76th day and the death toll continues to rise.

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More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, according to health officials in Gaza. The latest escalation in violence started after Hamas - the group that controls the Palestinian territory which is considered to be a terrorist organisation by the UK and other Western governments - killed 1,200 Israelis in an unprecedented attack.

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, a collection of several groups which organised the protest in Salford today (December 22), says Israel has been committing 'war crimes' for over 75 years. Steve Rowe, who attended the protest, said: "Nobody can stand and say it is morally right to support the horrors that Israel has been committing in Palestine and it is time for all of us to stand against it.

"Speakers pointed out that the shocking rate of death and injury is so high that in UK terms it would be equivalent to the entire population of Greater Manchester being dead or