Westminster, London — In a powerful and deeply emotional vigil held outside the Palace of Westminster, the names of more than 16,000 children killed in Gaza were read aloud by actors, presenters, and campaigners as part of a solemn tribute organised by the charity Choose Love.
Under the shadow of the Elizabeth Tower, public figures including Steve Coogan, Juliet Stevenson, Toby Jones, and Emily Watson took turns to read names of children who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. The event was both a memorial and a call to action, urging the UK Government to reconsider its stance and press for a permanent ceasefire.
The vigil formed part of a wider campaign condemning the scale of destruction and civilian casualties in Gaza, described by participants as “a genocide”. A banner reading “Gaza: Actions Not Words” formed the backdrop to the vigil, bearing the names of 1,700 babies under one year old confirmed dead.
Addressing the crowd, Steve Coogan said he joined the vigil to “highlight the plight of starving children in Gaza who are having their aid blocked”. He continued, “We are reading out the names to remember them as human beings, not just statistics. These children were not responsible for this conflict, yet they paid the ultimate price.”
Coogan went on to criticise the British media’s coverage of the conflict. “It’s not only immoral, it’s illegal under international law, and a lot of mainstream news outlets would rather this went away.”
The vigil took place amid reports that as many as 20,000 children are still missing beneath the rubble in Gaza. Each speaker at the event read approximately 300 names, with actor Khalid Abdalla, known for his role in The Crown, remarking that all the children he read for were five years old. “There was no change in number. Thousands upon thousands of children have died, and the final number is still unknown.”
Juliet Stevenson offered a heartfelt tribute, emphasising the human cost. “Each child that has been killed had a name, a family, passions, and fears — just like our own children. There is no difference. They are not numbers. It is a genocide, and I am horrified.”
Other notable participants included Ncuti Gatwa, Andrea Riseborough, Dawn O’Porter, and Nadia Sawalha, all lending their voices in remembrance of lives cut tragically short. The vigil was described by many in attendance as profoundly moving, with the repetitive reading of names bringing the sheer scale of the loss into heartbreaking focus.
The event follows an open letter signed by over 300 actors, musicians, and public figures, calling on the Government to take decisive steps to “end the UK’s complicity in the horrors of Gaza”. Signatories included Gary Lineker, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brian Cox, Paloma Faith, Annie Lennox, and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos.
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The letter called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to halt all UK arms sales to Israel, ensure the full delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and broker an “immediate and permanent ceasefire”.
A Government spokesperson responded to the growing calls for action, stating: “We strongly oppose the expansion of military operations in Gaza and call on the Israeli Government to cease its offensive and immediately allow for unfettered access to humanitarian aid. The denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law.”
The spokesperson added that the UK had already suspended certain export licences to Israel and continues to monitor applications to ensure no items that could contribute to military operations are approved.
Despite official statements, campaigners remain unconvinced, with Choose Love and other organisers urging continued public pressure. Their message was clear: words are no longer enough — what is needed now is decisive action to stop the slaughter of children and protect those who remain.
