Dozens of Chileans protest for Gaza in Santiago

Dozens of Chileans, many of them Palestinian exiles, gathered for the second day in a row in Santiago on Wednesday to show their support for Palestinians amid a deadly Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip that has killed and wounded hundreds of people.

Protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy chanting slogans and waving Palestinian flags.

The rallies have been organised by Maurice Khamis, the president of the Palestinian community in Chile.

"We are demanding that the Chilean state end relations with the state of Israel, we believe that genocides, murders, the persecution of the Palestinian people is something that cannot be accepted by our country," said Carol Cariola, a Communist Party congresswoman.

One man, a Jewish protester named Yoel who was holding a sign reading “Jew Against Apartheid”, said he was against the Israeli government's actions.

"We have to let it be clear that not all Jewish people support what Israel is doing, and what Israel does puts us all in grave danger."

Since May 10, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes which have reduced residential areas in Gaza to rubble.

 The current conflict broke out when Hamas launched rockets at Israel from Gaza in response to an assault by Israeli security forces on Palestinians worshippers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque which left hundreds of people injured.

At least 231 Palestinians, including 64 children, have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Twelve people in Israel have been killed due to Hamas rocket attacks.