The Muslim community yesterday marched through Republic Street, Valletta, in a peaceful protest against the Israeli attacks on innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Some 200 members of the Maltese Muslim Community braved the evening chill and chanted: "Free, free Palestine, occupation is a crime" and "Stop the occupation, stop the aggression" as they carried Palestinian flags and posters through the capital.

Their message was spelt out on a large banner that read: "We call upon the free world to apply pressure on the Israeli government to stop the ongoing massacre and break the siege".

Before the protest started, a group of Muslims gathered in a corner of Freedom Square for their evening prayers to Allah whom they thanked during the protest as they chanted: "Allah hu akbar" (God is great).

At the forefront of the crowd, which protested in Valletta's wet roads, was a line of children, one of who carried a poster reading: "Why are we being killed?"

Behind her, an adult carried a poster showing Palestinian children killed during the war that has been going on since mid-December.

The protesters questioned what the United Nations was doing to stop the massacre as another banner accused the UN of being "blind, deaf and dumb".

They also emphasised the importance of the EU's role "to control the Israeli military machine".

Labour Party international secretary Alex Sceberras Trigona, representatives of Moviment Graffitti and television host Peppi Azzopardi were among those present.

In another protest held last week various non-governmental organisations condemned the violence that led to the death of innocent civilians when Israeli troops attacked the Gaza Strip on Sunday.