King Charles passes Bring Them Home vigil on Whitehall

At gathering opposite Downing Street huge crowd of supporters and black-clad volunteers signifying those who had been captured by Hamas mark 30 days since terrorist attacks

As the royal coach carrying Charles and Camilla made its way along Whitehall and back to Buckingham Palace after he had delivered the King’s Speech to parliament, a big crowd, mainly Jewish, was shouting loudly “Bring them home”.

The nearly 1,000-strong group was determined to get its message across, bellowing the slogan as the royal retinue, with its equine escort in glorious red and gold ceremonial uniforms, trotted past. Whether the King and Queen actually heard what was being shouted is a moot point, but it was a simple and oft-repeated message.

The event, which took place opposite Downing Street, featured a sea of blue and white Israeli flags interspersed with banners urging people to “Remember, Remember, 7/10”. The vigil was held in co-ordination with Israel and major cities around the world, to mark the shloshim (30 days) since the Hamas terror attacks on southern Israel and the kidnapping of 241 hostages.

Speakers included Conservative peer Lord Polak, Israeli campaigner Hen Mazzig and Romy McCarthy, an activist from the Iranian Jewish community. A group of black-clad volunteers lined up to pose in handcuffs, signifying those who had been captured by Hamas terrorists.

The event was organised by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum in collaboration with the Merit Spread Foundation, both of whom have been working to cultivate international support for the unconditional release of Hamas’ hostages.