RESPECT MP George Galloway addressed an audience of more than 1,000 supporters as he urged Bolton to back a humanitarian aid appeal for the people of Gaza.

The outspoken MP for Bethnal Green and Bow was given a standing ovation after he delivered a powerful speech at the 3D Centre in Bella Street, Daubhill, last night.

Mr Galloway condemned the Israeli government’s violence in Palestine and criticised the American and British governments for supporting Israel.

He also launched a scathing attack on the BBC for refusing to televise a humanitarian aid appeal for the people in Gaza who have been left dead, injured and homeless by the fighting.

He said: “The British government, which already has one million Muslims’ blood on their hands with the Bush and Blair invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, has sided with Israel from the beginning.”

Mr Galloway is planning to lead an aid convoy from the UK to Gaza, via Europe and north Africa, on February 14.

He is appealing for people to donate food, clothes, medicine, toys and other aid to be transported to Gaza in the convoy.

As he urged people to give whatever they had, audience members came forward with donations ranging from packets of painkillers to office space.

One man donated a 44-tonne truck to the appeal, while another gave two ambulances and a student offered the use of his house for two weeks.

Collection buckets were passed round and returned stuffed with notes.

Mr Galloway said: “You need to get your own trucks. Get the name of Bolton on them. Make sure that the convoy doesn’t arrive in Gaza with no presence from Bolton.”

Mr Galloway pledged to the audience that he would to return to Bolton to report his findings after his visit to Gaza.