EU deploys patrol vessel to English Channel to tackle migration crisis

The European Union's border agency on Friday announced that it has dispatched a patrol vessel to the English Channel for the first time to support French search and rescue operations related to small, overcrowded boats at sea.

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) also said it plans to deploy additional vessels to join French patrols in the coming months.

In recent years, a large number of irregular migrants have attempted to cross the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom. The smuggling boats are often dangerously overcrowded and operate under hazardous conditions.

As of early August, 15 people had died this year while attempting to cross the Channel. On August 4, a total of 173 people were rescued by French and British maritime rescue services from a smuggling boat that caught fire in the English Channel.

EU deploys patrol vessel to English Channel to tackle migration crisis

EU deploys patrol vessel to English Channel to tackle migration crisis

EU deploys patrol vessel to English Channel to tackle migration crisis

Thousands of demonstrators marched through London on Saturday, protesting Israel's military operations in Gaza and urging the British government to stop supplying weapons to Israel.

Some roads in central London have been closed to make way for the demonstrators. Participants waved Palestinian flags and held signs with slogans such as "End the Genocide" and "Sanction Israel."

They demanded that the British government halt arms supplies to Israel, while calling for the liberation of Palestine and an end to the military operations in Gaza.

Some demonstrators stood in a row, wearing panels embroidered with the names of those killed in the Gaza conflict hanging on their chests in hopes that this would help convey the true cruelty of war.

"I'm here today to display this panel that I made, which contains the [names] of 182 people who have been killed in Gaza. The UK government should immediately stop arming Israel. They should apply sanctions according to international law," said Ghislaine, a local protester.

Protests in London call for end to arms supplies to Israel