THEY came in their hundreds to express solidarity and call for an end to the killing.

Southampton city centre was brought to a standstill on Saturday as around 500 protesters marched to show their opposition to the ongoing conflict thousands of miles away in the Middle East.

With the morning’s news carrying announcements that Israel had warned Gaza residents of its plans to escalate its offensive in the occupied territory, the timing of the demonstration was particularly poignant.

Saturday’s noisy, but peaceful protest, which coincided with others across Britain including a mass gathering in London’s Hyde Park, came just 24 hours after both Israel and Hamas rejected UN calls for an immediate ceasefire.

The violence has already claimed more than 800 – mostly Palestinian – lives, including many children and civilians.

Having gathered by the Peace Fountain in East Park, the assembled campaigners began their slow march into city after an address from Southampton Itchen MP John Denham.

Shoppers stopped to watch as the group, chanting and waving a colourful mix of banners and placards, walked down Above Bar Street and came to a halt outside West Quay shopping centre.

Azad Majid, of the Muslim Council of Southampton, which organised the demonstration with the Stop the War Coalition, said he was pleased so many people had braved the cold weather to take part.

“I estimate there have been up to 600 people who have turned out to march, so there’s a lot of feeling here where people want to do something about what’s happening out there,” he said.

“But I think this is just the start really. If the government takes no action then we need to continue to increase the pressure.”

Navid Khan, 29, a charity worker from St Marys, was one of those on the march.

He said: “Some of us need to do something. We thought at least we are able to raise our voices and hopefully that will have some sort of impact.”

Also taking part was retired grandmother Veronica Tippetts, 70, from Inner Avenue. “I’m here because I support peace and I think we should work together for peace,” she said.

Kasim Sumra, 32, a neighbourhood warden from Newtown, Southampton, added: “We’ve come out to bring awareness to the people – we need to let people know what’s happening in Palestine. All we’re asking for is a ceasefire.”

More than 20 police officers were on duty throughout the demonstration, which passed off without arrest.