Tens of thousands appeal: 'Stop Arming Israel, Stop Starving Gaza'

Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot

As the horrendous death toll in Gaza continues to mount, more than 80,000 people braved torrential rain in London on Saturday to take part in the latest National March for Palestine - from Embankment to Whitehall.

Among the Christian groups represented, was Pax Christi, Westminster J&P, Christians for Palestine, London Catholic Worker, Quakers and Christian CND. They marched alongside the massive Jewish bloc, community organisations, trade unionists, Holocaust Survivors and their Families, Moslem, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu groups.

Andrew Jackson, Chief Executive of Pax Christi told ICN: "Although we have been involved in the previous marches for Palestine, we felt a still greater urgency this time, against the background of the Government's prescription of Palestine Action as a terror group and the attack last week on Holy Family Church in Gaza.

"As Oliver Mcternan reminded us at our AGM, we cannot be impartial in the face of injustice and we mustn't be afraid to show solidarity with the people of Palestine or to call out the actions of the Government of Israel and the IDF for what they are."

Address the marchers from a stage virtually opposite Downing Street, Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Ambassador, denounced Israel's destruction of hospitals, schools, universities, mosques and churches.

"Just on Wednesday, Israel bombed the Catholic Church in Gaza, killing three Palestinians and wounding nine, including the priest of that ancient historic church,'"he said.

"Israel's supporters have encouraged the mass slaughter of over 60,000 men, women and children… Israel's supporters are dedicated to Israel's war crimes and genocide, are dedicated to silencing those who would object."

"Israel has killed an average of 26 children every single day for the last 22 months," he continued with deep emotion. "Try to imagine, every day, another classroom wiped out. Feel the parents grieving."

"We have got to a point where the murder of children has become normalised," he said.

"Today a deliberate famine imposed on two million people hardly merits mention in the news. Today, the fact that 1.9 million people have been forced into a tiny area with no health service, no shelter, no food, no water, no electricity, is met with a shrug. The genocidal rhetoric of Israeli leaders barely raises an eyebrow. Israel has normalised genocide."

Ambassador Zomlot continued: "To all those who enrich themselves on the blood of our children, from the broken bones of our people, I say: Shame on you."

"What price our humanity?" he asked.

'What have they become, those enablers of genocide, that 22 months of mass murder no longer stirs them? That they will still sell arms, still justify, still dissemble and still silence dissent?'

"To all those who explain away, or look away, shame on you,'"the ambassador said. "To all those who enrich themselves from the blood of our people, shame on you."

He thanked the demonstrators for their support, saying: "Your courage is only matched by the heroism of the Palestinian people."

"Raise your flags. Let them hear you," he urged.

"We are not going anywhere. We will liberate our land. No matter what, we will rise again. Wounded, but never broken. Our spirits fly higher than the F35s."

"We will not waver until there is justice, until there is accountability, until there is a free Palestine."

Green Party London Assembly member Zoe Garbett told the rally: "We saw in Kent a peaceful protester with a sign saying 'Free Gaza' was threatened with arrest by armed police.

"But carrying a Palestine flag is not a crime. They are trying to build fear but our solidarity will not be silenced."

She added, "It is part of a growing trend of peaceful protesters subjected to increased surveillance and policing aimed at crushing dissent. We stand here in our thousands to say we will not be silenced."

Ahmed Eldin, a Palestinian journalist and actor, said: "They say it is terrorism to use violence to achieve a political outcome. Who is using violence to achieve political outcomes?"

"A group that sprays red paint on an arms factory or a state that is bombing women and children. Why are the EU, British and US governments supporting a terrorist state?

"Solidarity is not a sentiment but a commitment to stand with the Palestinians regardless of the cost. They can't jail us all. They can't silence us all."

University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady said: "Israel's supporters might be determined to shut us down and intimidate us. But no matter how many restrictions are put on our marches. We will not be silenced. We will always stand with the Palestinians."

She argued that the courage to keep marching is nothing compared to the courage of the Palestinian people. "We need to organise tirelessly to isolate Israel, democratically, economically and militarily," she said.

The march was organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, together with Stop the War.

Across the UK, marches also took place in Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro.

LINKS

Christians for Palestine Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555041637853

Pax Christi UK: https://paxchristi.org.uk/

Westminster Justice and Peace: https://westminsterjusticeandpeace.org/

Palestine Solidarity Campaign: https://palestinecampaign.org/