Tag: International Day of Solidarity with Palestine

Solidarity Worldwide: actions, protests and initiatives for Palestine around the globe

As the Israeli army continues its genocidal war on Gaza, and as the Israeli occupation forces and settler militias carry out ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, people around the world are taking to the streets, engaging in direct actions and BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) and pressuring their governments to enforce an immediate permanent ceasefire, an end to the blockade of Gaza and an end to the Israeli occupation and apartheid.

This post will cover the ongoing solidarity with the Palestinian struggle around the world. It will be updated with media and reports of direct actions, demonstrations, vigils and other forms of solidarity currently happening around the world, so that we can inspire each other, learn from each other and connect struggles.

 

Jewish Voices for Peace launches a Week of Action (11-15 December)

Jewish Voices for Peace and partner organisations are launching a week of mobilisations for the week (11th – 15th December). Their toolkit  includes guidelines on how to take action during the week in the US:

#1 – Organize a protest at your elected official’s office

#2 – Organize a protest or creative direct action at a weapons manufacturing and corporate targets.

#3 – Tell Congress: stop arming this genocide and Vote NO on sending more weapons to Israel, and join us every Tuesday and Wednesday to make calls to Congress.

#4 – Host a teach-in or create a zine on the role of U.S. militarism and Palestine in your community.

#5 – Something else! Plan a creative action!

 

Students in Queen’s University Belfast vote for divestment from military and colonial projects, ending all ties to arms firms (December 8th)

An overwhelming majority of students (88.71%) at Queen’s University Belfast student union voted for a position that called for divestment from military and colonial projects and the ending of all ties with to arms firms. The motion also called for the removal of Hillary Clinton as chancellor, and for giving more power to students and staff over senior appointments, partnerships and investments of the University.

 

 

French activists protest in front of manufacturer supplying Israeli army (December 7th)

Activists from the group Stop Arming Israel France blocked the entrance to the offices of Exxelia, a company that manufactures components of Israeli missiles, such as position sensors.


During the 2014 war on Gaza, an Israeli bomb killed three Palestinian children from the Shuheibar family, leaving other two seriously injured. The bombing occured on July 17th, during a five-hour humanitarian ceasefire brokered by the UN, and targeted what was evidently a civilian target — a rooftop where children were playing. Relatives of the three child martyrs found a residue of the bomb read “Eurofarad France“. Experts have since determined that the component is a Hall effect sensor made by Exxelia Technologies.

The family has since brought Exxelia to court for complicity in war crimes.

 

Groups take UK government to court over arms exports to Israel (December 5th)

Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) are taking the British government to court for violating its arms export regulations, which obligate the government to suspend licenses for arms exports if there is a clear risk that the exported weapons might be used in breach of international humanitarian law.

According to the organisation Campaign Against Arms Trade, the UK provide “15 percent of the components of the F35 stealth combat aircraft which Israel has used to bomb Gaza in recent weeks. They also supply missiles, tanks, small arms and ammunition”.

(from Israel-Palestine war: Groups take UK government to court over arms exports to Israel | Middle East Eye)

 

British activists halt operations at LondonMetric, which rents property to arms manufacturer Elbit Systems (December 5th)

Activists from the British group “Palestine Action” have targeted LondonMetric, a British property company that rents lands and buildings to Elbit Systems. Elbit Systems is the primary provider of the Israeli military’s land-based equipment and and unmmaned aerial vehicles.

 

“LondonMetric owns the land and building at Unit F, Meridian Business Park, Meridian E, Leicester LE19 1WZ, from which Elbit operates their UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) drone factory. U-TacS exports millions of pounds worth of drone technologies annually to Israel, including parts for armed Hermes drones. These drones have well-documented links to war crimes and are sure to play a significant role in the ongoing genocide in Gaza”. (from: Elbit’s drone factory landlords targeted – Freedom News)

 

Protesters target COP28 summit in Dubai with peaceful direct action (December 4th)

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the venue of the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai for a peaceful action of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Protesters demanded for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and read the names of the victims of the Israeli attack.

In response to the authority’s ban on raising Palestinian flags, the protesters held banners and flags with watermelons painted on them. The watermelon is a well-known symbol of the Palestinian struggle — since it bears the colours of the Palestinian flag — and it has been widely used to evade restrictions on Palestinian symbols both in Palestine and around the world.

Watch a report of the action here

Find more about the watermelon and other symbols of the Palestinian struggle here

Human rights organisations bring Dutch government to court over complicity in Israeli war crimes (December 4th)

Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, are bringing the Dutch government to court over its export  of reserve parts for fighter jets to Israel, which has continued in the past weeks, despite the figther jets being the backbone of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

 

Palestinian Boycott National Committee publishes statement putting forward grass-root policies to enact Palestine solidarity (December 2nd)

The BNC published a statement putting forward a guide to grass-root policies that activists around the world can push in their local unions, organisations and city councils to put solidarity into action. The policies, which are laid out with practical resources and examples, include: Call for a Permanent Ceasefire, Apartheid Free Pledge, Divestment policies.

 

South Africans march for International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29th)

Some of the thousands of people protest as part of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Johannesburg, South Africa.
March in Johannesburg, South Africa [Kim Ludbrook/EPA]
South Africans marched through Johannesburg on November 29th, crossing Nelson Mandela Bridge and calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Ronnie Kasrils called for the boycott and isolation of Israel over the current war:

“All over the world, millions and millions are coming out and saying no, no, no. We will boycott and isolate Israel until it hurts them, and we stand by the Palestinian people fully, in our total support”

A reel showing the march can be found here

 

 

 

It’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, but Israel still lays claim to the longest occupation of our time

30 November 2018 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah team | Ramallah, occupied Palestine

November 29 marks the 71st anniversary that the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 in 1947, which later became known as “International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.” Leaders in Ramallah called on the UN to recognize that resolution, during a time where settlements have massively increased up three-fold from last year. “This day should demand actions that will re-instate the role of the United Nations as an international institution who’s mission is to realize peace and justice,” states the coordinator of the political parties in the Ramallah district, who read out a letter written to the UN secretary General, then presented it to the Representative at the UN Office in Ramallah. The letter contained 4 major demands: International protection for the Palestinians under illegal occupation, proper punishment for Israel’s war crimes, ending American enabling of Israel’s illegal actions, and an international investigation into the continued practice of aggression, notably settlements. International crimes by the Israeli government have gone unabated, the sustained occupation of the West Bank being the most notable, and the confiscation of land thereof. Or the imprisonment, torturing, and rendition of children; or the outright massacre(s) of the defenseless population of Gaza, including the brutal, decade-long siege. The UN’s stance has always been clear, but their inability to put a stop- or even a deceleration- to Israel’s belligerent policies is the reason this demonstration was staged. Recently this month, Israel ramped up its assault on the Palestinian leadership, as well as on East Jerusalem itself. The East Jerusalem Governor’s recent arrest, and the demolition of over 20 businesses in Shu’fat Refugee Camp, are the most telling examples. “We affirm our right of national resistance in all forms that comply with international laws, to realize these rights, which are un-negotiable, and uncompromising… We want the international community to (help) build the Palestinian State on the ground, and to make our people achieve their goals of independence, self-determination, and the right of returning back according to the resolution.” Israel has laid claim to the longest military occupation in modern history.

Nablus comes together for International Solidarity Day

by Wahed Rejol

29 November 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

Today in the Occupied West Bank, Palestinians and internationals gathered in Nablus to participate in an international day of support for Palestine.

In 1977 the United Nations General Assembly voted to declare November 29 as the The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  On that day in 1947 the same body voted to partition Palestine as part of UN resolution 181.  The following year the state of Israel was created.  64 years later Palestinians have not regained their freedom, and refugees have been unable to return to their native land.

As solidarity actions took place around the world, international activists joined Palestinians in Nablus to commemorate the important day.  Demonstrators held signs, waved flags, and joined Palestinian-led chants of freedom and justice.  The Mayor of Nablus addressed the crowd and encouraged his fellow citizens to remain strong in the face of the decades long occupation.  Solidarity activists from Europe, North America, South America, and Africa were present.  Internationals and Palestinians were encouraged by the event and plan to organize a similar action next year.

Wahed Rejol is an ISM volunteer working in the West Bank (name has been changed).