CROWDS gathered at Chester’s Town Hall Square on Saturday (May 18) in protest at the ongoing brutality in Gaza.

Around 200 people attended the 'Protest Against Gaza Massacre' demonstration which began at midday, organised by Chester Friends of Palestine.

Dozens held Palestinian flags and banners calling for a ceasefire.

The overall number of deaths recorded in Gaza since Israel began its offensive, following the Hamas attack on October 7, stands at more than 35,000 people.

Chester and District Standard: Dozens held banners and Palestinian flags.Dozens held banners and Palestinian flags. (Image: Ray McHale)

There is debate about the proportion of women and children killed, with the UN recently revising the figure from 69 per cent to 52 per cent.

The UN says it is now relying on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, rather than from the Hamas-run Government Media Office (GMO).

Gaza's health ministry states that of the current overall death toll (34,844), the number of registered deaths of women stands at 4,959 and children at 7,797.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recent interview that around 30,000 people had been killed in Gaza, with 14,000 of them being “terrorists” and 16,000 civilians. However, no evidence was provided for these figures.

The Chester demonstration was supported by local trade union branches:  Cheshire West and Chester NEU, West Cheshire UNISON, UNISON NW Region, Cheshire Unite Community and the West Cheshire Trades Union Council.

Speakers included a local Labour Councillor, from the Green Party, UNISON, West Cheshire Trades Union Council, Stop the War, Chester University Islamic Society and Chester Friends of Palestine.

The demonstration lasted for around 90 minutes.