Tag: London

Trafalgar Square: Gaza 1417 remembrance die-in

ISM London

16 January 2010

Die-In in Trafalgar Square to remember Gaza
Die-In in Trafalgar Square to remember Gaza

1417 is not just a number: it’s the men, women and children who died during Israel’s 23-day assault in 2008-2009.

This event marked the anniversary of the atrocities committed in Gaza and called for the state of Israel to be brought to justice for its illegal actions and for those responsible to face trial for war crimes.

Heavy rain meant that instead of staging a “Die-in”, with people lying on the ground to represent those killed in the attack, those present decided to observe a minute’s silence for the victims. Approximatly 200 people participated with each being given the name of one of the dead to hold aloft. After a perfectly observed silence, three speakers with direct connections to the attack on Gaza addressed the crowd – Sameh Habeeb, a Gazan journalist; Natalie Abou Shakrah, a Gaza survivor; and Manal Timraz, who lost fifteen members of her family in the attack, eleven of whom were children.

Manal Timraz’s speech proved to be one of the most emotional moments of the day. People in the crowd had tears in their eyes as she told the crowd: “When I saw you all holding the names of the victims I was looking around for the names of my family members… the youngest was 2 and the eldest of the children was just twelve. Can you imagine…these are children who were not allowed to grow up.”

“Equality for all citizens on the historic land of Palestine, no matter what religion or gender or race or colour or ethnicity, justice through accountability. Just like people of conscience managed to isolate the apartheid state in South Africa we can isolate the apartheid state of Israel.” Natalie Abou Shakra.

“But we are not only here to commemorate the dead. We are here to highlight the injustice of Israel’s brutal occupation, besiegement and oppression of Gaza and its population. We – civil society – will not accept Israel’s crimes and war mongering, and we will not accept our government’s continued sponsoring of Israel’s terror tactics.” One of the event organisers said in speech.

After the speeches, some participants initiated their own die in with some lying on the ground covered in fake blood with others burning the Israeli flag in protest against the Israel state, with many others joining in chanting and calling for Freedom for Palestine.

Palestine Memorial Week kicks off in London

Palestinian Return Centre

For the first time, a week of wide ranging activities and events was launched yesterday, Wednesday 13th , to mark six decades of suffering and persecution experienced by the Palestinian people . The events are expected to spread all across Europe especially the UK. During the week, the biggest parliamentarian delegation (55 MPs & MEPs) are leaving for Gaza where an assessment of the disastrous humanitarian conditions will be made.

The memorial week was launched Wednesday afternoon during a press conference about the parliamentary delegation to the besieged people of Gaza.

Events continued in the evening where a key conference to remember the Palestinian victims over the past 60 years especially those who were killed in Gaza, was organized in Central London. Although, the weather was cold and snowy, a considerable number of participants totaling a few hundred took part.

Jeremy Corbyn MP and Baroness Jenny Tonge spoke on the calamites and extreme distress experienced in the Gaza strip. They criticized Israel for its cruel policy against the Palestinian civilians. Additionally, both speakers spoke about their experience while visiting Gaza in recent months as well their plans for the next delegation heading for Gaza where they too will take part.

A detailed presentation on the conditions in Gaza by Middle East Expert Peter Eyre will highlighted the violations committed by Israel. His presentation graphically documented the theft of off shore gas by Israel and other western companies. It provided another dimension to Israel’s illegal siege and high militarization of the region and to the control and ownership of strategic offshore gas reserves which under international law belongs to the Palestinians.

Former Palestinian Ambassador in the UK and Russia, Afif Safya, stressed the importance of the memorial week to highlight the Palestinian cause within the mainstream. He also touched on the history of Palestinians and the massacres and attacks they suffered.

For his part, member of Board of trustees of PRC, Ghasan Faour, touched on the issue of Palestinian refugees. Faour stressed the importance of the right of return for every single Palestinian refugee.

Ken Loach, famous British Film Director who has many extensive and fascinating cinema productions like Poor Cow, Family Life, Looking for Eric, It’s a Free World…, Tickets and many more, expressed his solidarity with the Palestinians people and emphasized the role of the Media and how it should be more fair in its coverage.

Libelled activist donates to ISM from court award

ISM London

7 September 2009

ISM London wishes to thank activist Raphael Cohen for a generous donation he recently made from the funds the court awarded him after his recent libel action against a London newspaper.

Raph – as he’s known within the ISM – instigated legal proceedings against the Jewish Chronicle after it published a letter in November 2008 falsely claiming he had “sheltered” British suicide bombers five days before they blew up a Tel Aviv bar in 2003.

In April, Raph won the case in the high court, accepting substantial damages and an apology. The paper also paid legal costs. The weekly newspaper accepted it should never have published the letter.

This month, Raph announced to ISM London that he would donate part of his award to the ISM.

Protests in Solidarity with Tristan Anderson and Palestinians

Tristan Anderson, from Oakland, CA, was shot and critically injured in the West Bank on March 13 while protesting the Israeli apartheid wall. Demonstrations were held in solidarity with him and with all Palestinians under Israeli occupation. Below are videos from the rally in San Fransisco at the Israeli consulate and some images from a protest in London outside the Israeli embassy.

His partner, Gabrielle Silverman, spoke to a rally at the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco today by telephone from the hospital. She discusses the weaponry that Israel has deployed against Palestinians and international supporters, including live ammunition as well as the controversial high-velocity tear gas projectile shot at Tristan.

Starhawk speaks to the rally about Tristan and the occupation.

Recording of Tristan reading from his diary played at the rally.

Photos from solidarity rally in London. (filkaler)