MEMBERS of Chesham’s Muslim community set off this morning to join the thousands taking part in today’s Gaza peace protest in London.

The march, which had hoped to attract 100,000 people, began at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park.

Around 100 people were expected to leave from Chesham at about 11am this morning.

Among the organisers of the Chesham group was Shamrez Akhtar, 35, a father of three, who said images of the conflict had driven him to help stage the rally.

He said: “We're not into the political side of this – it's just about the innocent people getting hurt. Most of the kids they show on the television are the same age as my kids and it's just so disturbing.”

The group decided to join the London march earlier this week, when a handful of community members found themselves discussing the tragic conflict.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the hostilities between Israel and Palestine are now entering a third week.

Israel launched air strikes and a ground assault on Gaza on December 27 in a bid to stop rockets being launched at Jewish towns in the territory.

Today Israel said it launched 40 air strikes overnight, while Hamas militants fired several rockets at Israeli towns.

Health officials say more than 800 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, while Israel reports 13 Israelis have died.

Chesham Town Councillor Mohammad Bhatti, who joined the protest, said it was not about religion. He said: “We're going to put a point across. I really feel very sorry for the people of Gaza, not for the Muslim point of view but the humanitarian point of view.

“I'm not protesting as a Muslim, but as a human being. There have been so many people injured and killed.”

He called for both parties in the conflict to negotiate with each other to stop the bloodshed.

Cllr Bhatti added he was pleased people in Chesham were joining the protest. He said: “I think the people have recognised this very well and are going to protest and show their feelings. All peace loving people should come.”

Abdul Latif, spokesman for the Bellingdon Road Mosque agreed this was not a religious protest, and said it had been organised completely independent of the mosque.

He said: “We're not there to agitate, we're there to protest what's going on. It doesn't matter whether you're Jew, Hindu, Christian – it's just human beings against human beings. We're going to take part in the protest to raise a voice and say 'stop it – this is nonsense'.”