Gaza protesters given reduced sentences

Seven protesters arrested after demonstrating against Israel's invasion of Gaza won reductions in their sentences today. A further three failed in their bid at the court of appeal in London, which was packed with supporters, to have their jail terms reduced. Lord Justice Thomas stressed that "those who engage in violence of this kind must go into custody". However, the ruling concluded that judges in the original cases had approached sentencing with "too high a starting point". It also criticised the time it had taken for cases to be dealt with following the protests.