Archbishop of Canterbury is among faith leaders to join politicians and celebrities – including billionaire heiress Jemima Goldsmith

• The Archbishop of Canterbury told the vigil that fighting was “driving peace far away”.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is among faith leaders joining politicians and celebrities at a vigil in Downing Street for victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

People stood in the cold and rain outside Downing Street to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speak out against anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred.

The vigil, organized to protect community relations in the UK, was led by Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered British MP Jo Cox.

It was supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury along with a leading British rabbi, imam and peace activist. Famous faces who came out in support included screenwriter Jemima Khan, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, Rob Rinder and heiress Jemima Goldsmith.

The event, titled “Building Bridges, Together for Humanity,” was billed as a place to mourn the loss of life on all sides of the conflict, “in the first mass event of its kind” since Hamas militants invaded Israel on March 7 October.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said he was “impressed and humbled” after hearing “extraordinary and remarkable” testimonies from survivors of the conflict with relatives killed who said they wanted peace, not hate.

He told the crowd: “There is never anything good in the death of an innocent Israeli, there is never anything good in the death of an innocent Palestinian.”

Fighting brings “heartache for families, fear for the future and pushes peace away,” he added.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is among faith leaders joining politicians and celebrities at a vigil for victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Downing Street. The archbishop said he was “awestruck and humbled” after hearing “extraordinary and remarkable” testimonies from survivors of the conflict with relatives who were killed. Pictured: Jemima Goldsmith and Robert Rinder at the vigil. The event, titled “Building Bridges, Together for Humanity,” was billed as a place to mourn the loss of life on all sides of the conflict “in the first mass event of its kind” since October 7. People set fires during a vigil for people , who have lost family members in Gaza and Israel, light flameless candles

The archbishop spoke from a stage: “While we are here, tomorrow there will be children who are thinking about going to school in Britain, who are afraid of it because they will be spit on, shouted at and hated because they are Muslims or Jews are.”

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“They will have to give up their uniforms because they identify them too clearly – and that’s what’s happening on our streets.”

To applause, he added: “We are called to clean up our front door in this country, to eliminate all anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and to ensure that when we speak of peace, we have lit a light of peace here that can help us. “Lighthouse somewhere else.”

Screenwriter Jemima Khan, who has Muslim and Jewish family members, and lawyer and TV personality Rob Rinder, who is of Jewish descent, were among those who joined the crowd.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who is of Palestinian descent and has a family member who died in Gaza, told the crowd that hope must emerge from the bloodshed.

She said: “It’s wonderful that so many children were brought here today.”

“We will do everything in our power to make sure this is the last time.”

Labor MP Stella Creasy said the people of Palestine and Israel were “paying the price” for politicians’ failure to find the right words to deal with the conflict.

People stood in the cold and rain outside Downing Street to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, speak out against anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Imam Monawar Hussain, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby and Rabbi David Mason during the vigil against hate Richmond Terrace Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who is of Palestinian descent and has a family member who died in Gaza, told the crowd that Hope must arise from the bloodshed. Brendan Cox, whose wife, Labor MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a right-wing extremist during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, was one of the organizers of the vigil

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood told the crowd they were standing “in the shadow of Big Ben and at a time when our politics always seems to be tribal”.

He said unfolding events in the Middle East brought with them the “serious prospect” of a “worsening humanitarian crisis” and the unacceptable loss of life on both sides required us to move beyond partisan politics.

He added that this was a time to “stand alongside other political voices and leaders from across the national community and have the courage to speak out.”

The vigil was held as new figures showed that 75 percent of people agreed that, given the current tensions in the UK, it is important to bring people together to mourn all the innocent lives lost in Israel and Palestine.

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The survey of 1,538 people, commissioned by Hope Not Hate and Together For Humanity, also found that 50 percent of people said the conflict had worsened community cohesion in the UK.

A total of 51 percent of people agreed that the war increased anti-Muslim hatred in the UK, 56 percent agreed that the conflict increased anti-Jewish hatred. Only 11 percent and 9 percent, respectively, disagreed.

Brendan Cox, whose wife, Labor MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a right-wing extremist during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign, was one of the organizers of the vigil.

After moderating the event, he said: “This is about sharing in our collective humanity.” It's about leaving a message: No matter where we disagree, there should be no room for hate, anti-Semitism or Islamophobia give.

“Extremism thrives when good people remain silent.”

“Leaving the debate to the most extreme voices creates a culture of hate, intolerance and dehumanization.”

“Then we know that violence results from this.” I know this from my own family experience.

“I also know that it makes a big difference when good people step forward and challenge hate in all its forms, especially when it comes from people with whom you may disagree on other issues.”

Rob Rinder – criminal defense lawyer and television personality – said: “This isn’t called Together For Humanity for nothing.

Labor MP Stella Creasy said the people of Palestine and Israel were “paying the price” for politicians’ failure to find the right words to address the conflict. Imam Monawar Hussain holds up a lantern as part of the “Together for Humanity” vigil

“There is so much excitement on Twitter and other social media channels that this is a gift and an opportunity to remind our nation and our communities that we stand side by side, no matter your background or faith.”

“This is demonstrable physical evidence of good, of light in the darkness, and we need that now more than ever.”

At the end of the vigil, a minute's silence was held and lanterns were lit.

Speakers included British-Israeli Magen Inon, whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

The others included Palestinian peace activist Hamze Awawde, who lives in Ramallah in the Palestinian territories and whose relatives were recently injured in the conflict.

Together for Humanity has emerged since Israel began bombing Gaza in response to the October 7 attack, which led to a rise in anti-Semitism in Britain.

At least 1,747 incidents were recorded between October 7 and November 29 by the Community Security Trust, whose mission is to protect the Jewish community in the UK.

Pictured: Rabbi David Mason and Imam Monawar Hussain. TV star Rob Rinder said: “It's not called 'Together for Humanity' for nothing.”

Meanwhile, London and other British cities have seen large-scale protests in support of Palestinians in Gaza over the past weekend, polarizing public opinion and blamed for stoking social divisions.

Before the vigil, Cox, a father of two, said that “the loudest and most extreme voices drowned out the vast majority of the public” when it came to the conflict.

His wife was killed by a Nazi sympathizer just days before Britain's controversial 2016 Brexit referendum and he subsequently co-founded the charity Together Coalition.

She supports the vigil initiative launched last month to honor “Palestinians and Israelis, Muslims and Jews, all those who suffer from this war.”

Organizers said they were intended to be a “somber moment of reflection and togetherness – without flags or posters.”

“We are working to turn a moment into a movement – ​​one that inspires hope for peace, confronts prejudice and reminds us all of the importance of putting our shared humanity above all else,” they added.