Category: Gaza

Madleen Mission and the Crisis in Gaza: A Symbol of Solidarity


Events happening thick and fast

June 2025

Two major events have happened in the past few days in relation to the worsening situation in Gaza. A boat trying to make a symbolic visit to Gaza with food and other aid was intercepted in international waters by Israel. Today (10 June) the UK government joined others in sanctioning two members of the Israeli government. The Secretary General of Amnesty said:

By forcibly intercepting and blocking the Madleen (pictured) which was carrying humanitarian aid and a crew of solidarity activists, Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice

The operation carried out in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and put the safety of those on the boat at risk. The crew were unarmed activists and human rights defenders on a humanitarian mission, they must be released immediately and unconditionally. They must also be protected from torture and other ill-treatment pending their release. 

During its voyage over the past few days the Madleen’s mission emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians amid persistent international inaction. However, this very mission is also an indictment of the international community’s failure to put an end to Israel’s inhumane blockade. Activists would not have needed to risk their lives had Israel’s allies translated their rhetoric into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza

Israel’s interception of the Madleen despite global calls for it to be granted safe passage underscores the longstanding impunity Israel enjoys which has emboldened it to continue to commit genocide in Gaza and to maintain a suffocating, illegal blockade on Gaza for 18 years. 

Until we see real concrete steps by states worldwide signalling an end to their blanket support for Israel, it will have carte blanche to continue inflicting relentless death and suffering on Palestinians.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International

UK government announces sanctions

Today, the UK government announced sanctions against two members of the Israeli government, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for their various statements about the conflict in Gaza. Smotrich is quoted as saying:

“Gaza will be entirely destroyed” as a result of an Israeli military victory, and that its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries”

raising fears of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory.

He is also quoted as saying that he wants life for the Palestinians to be as dire as possible by confining them to a narrow strip of land:

“They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.”

These and other quotes are not from a hot-head or someone on the fringes of Israeli society but from the Security Minister (Gvir) and Finance Minister (Smotrich). Nor are they isolated statements said in the heat of the moment but part of a pattern of similar statements. The Israeli foreign affairs minister said it ‘was outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kinds of measures [UK sanctions]’,

The UK government has been under a huge amount of pressure to act especially as the blockage and its appalling effects began to be seen. Shooting people desperate for food after weeks of a blockade has been widely condemned.

Neither event will have much of an impact on Israel so long as America continues its unwavering support. More and more countries, under pressure from people who are outraged by what they see, are beginning to take a tougher line however. There are no viable peace talks taking place at present. The word ‘genocide’ is being used more and more: the deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of a large number of people from a particular national or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group. Just under 55,000 thousand have died in Gaza.

Sources: Jerusalem Post; Palestine Chronicle; Haaretz; Guardian.

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Gaza Chaos: Controversial Israeli Arms Strategy


Netanyahu’s decision to arm gangs in Gaza is deeply cynical, shocking and counterproductive
Latest vigil

June 2025

Rumours emerged from within Israel that Shin Bet and Netanyahu were arming gangs in Gaza, who were engaged in looting aid supplies, in a deeply cynical move designed it is claimed to counter Hamas. Up till now, the Israelis have repeatedly claimed it is Hamas which is looting supplies from the UN and other agencies – for which little evidence is provided and which has been repeatedly denied by the UN – so news that it is Israel itself which is supporting and arming gangs is profoundly shocking.

The story was revealed a few days ago by former Israeli Defense minister Avigdor Lieberman and it has not been denied by the prime minister’s office. Lieberman declared the programme to be ‘madness’. In a statement the PMO said ‘Israel is working to defeat Hamas in a variety of different ways upon the recommendation of the entire defense establishment leadership’. Some may have seen the interview on Channel 4 with an Israeli spokesman, David Mercer, who showed a video of an armed man shooting at civilians. He claimed it was a Hamas terrorist firing at their own people. Although it is not certain, it may have been one of the gangs being supported by this new policy.

An editorial in Haaretz said it was an attempt to foment chaos in Gaza in the form of divide and rule. It is thought that one of the individuals involved is Yasser abu Shabab who is claimed to have links with ISIS and is engaged in various criminal activities.

The situation in Gaza is increasingly serious and this week, many died at the few places where food supplies were available. Around 54,800 are thought to have died in Gaza so far.

The policy has drawn widespread criticism including from within Israel. Actively to support lawlessness is likely to be counterproductive and will do little to end the conflict.

Sources include: CBS News, Haaretz; Middle East Eye; Guardian

Vigil

The 79th vigil took place in Salisbury on 7th June with 30 people in attendance.

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Censoring Palestine: documentary


Documentary this Friday 6th on this important topic

June 2025

PAST EVENT

The documentary, Censoring Palestine, will be shown at the United Reform Church in Fisherton Street on Friday 6th June starting at 7:00 for 7:30. It features Peter Oborne, Ken Loach, Alexei Sayle and others and will discuss issues around what we see and read about this tragic conflict and how censorship is active in the UK.

‘In war, the first casualty is truth’ attributed to the Greek philosopher Aeschylus applies in spades to the conflict in Gaza. Indeed, truth has long been a casualty in this conflict which predates the horrific attack on October 7th. The first casualty is that it did not start on October 7th but to the events of 1948 and ’49 when hundreds of thousands of Arabs and Palestinians were cleared from their villages and many were killed in the process. It also has roots in the Balfour Declaration of 1917. It is thought that between 750,000 and a million were displaced by the Jewish immigrants. Many of those, and their children, now live in Gaza. Hundreds of villages were blown up or destroyed by the Hagana.

Today, the Israeli government will not allow foreign journalists into Gaza to witness events there. The Israeli spokesman David Mercer said on Channel 4 recently (3 June) when challenged why Israel will not allow independent journalists into Gaza said ‘we are concentrating on getting our hostages out not on getting journalists in’. A weak answer since the two are unconnected. They claim that they are bombing hospitals, homes and other structures because Hamas terrorists are using them as control centres but no evidence has ever been produced. The killing of those desperate for food was because, the Israeli spokesman said on Channel 4 news last evening, IDF soldiers were ‘threatened’ by the surging crowds. The footage we saw was of crowds of people, with not a weapon in sight, hoping to get some food after weeks of the blockade. IDF soldiers are fully armed and there were tanks and quadcopters used to shoot people from the air. Quite how their soldiers were threatened Mr Mercer did not explain (he was asked). In a way the Israelis have hoist themselves by their own petard: we are asked to believe their claims but they prevent any independent verification. 54,600 have now died in Gaza.

British media have a poor record in this conflict. The BBC has been frightened of the anti-Semitic, anti Israel accusations that David Mercer hinted at with Guru Murthy last evening. Its policy of balance has severely let it down. There are some signs of toughening up however. The problem is that the West generally, and America in particular, have supported Israel in all sorts of ways: political cover; weapons; blocking UN resolutions and simply turning a blind eye. Combined with Netanyahu’s need to keep the war going to keep his coalition alive has meant the nation feels it can act with impunity. And it has to be said – they’re not wrong. Until now. The images coming out of Gaza will shock the hardest of hearts. Children sobbing over the bodies of their dead parents and desperately waving pots at food points must surely force some kind of change. Emaciated infants are distressing to behold. It does seem that the coverage is changing and the bland repetition of Israel statements is being more forcefully challenged.

Government failings

Our government has also deceived us in many ways. The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy for example claiming on a BBC programme and in parliament that he had stopped some arms sales when analysis of Israeli records shows that sales have increased. He was lucky to be interviewed by Evan Davies who failed to challenge him. The RAF is conducting hundreds of flights over Gaza the purpose of which is unclear. Yet call this fact up in a search engine and there is very little reporting of it by our media. Quite what they are up to is unclear but the lack of transparency is telling in itself.

The government is keen to use its new powers – gifted to them by the previous government – to arrest or frustrate protestors at the Israeli arms firm Elbit Systems near Bristol, who, their website claims, make the UAS [drones] which are the ‘backbone of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)‘. They denied this in court.

The tragedy of all this is that it will not solve Israel’s problems. Those children left homeless and without parents will prove to be the breeding ground for the next generation of people who will have a hatred of what Israel has done to them.

We hope you can come to this documentary.

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Vigils: photo exhibition


Exhibition of photographs of the vigils held in Salisbury for peace in Gaza

June 2025

We have posted many times concerning the vigils held in Salisbury Market Place each Saturday at 5pm. Nearly 80 have now been held and there is a regular attendance of around 40 who attend and never less than 30. There is an exhibition of photographs of these vigils starting on 23 June and ending on 19 July at the Methodist Church in St Edmunds Street, Salisbury. They are available to view from 09:30 to noon and at other times when the church is open. We attach a flyer below and if you live in the Salisbury/South Wilts area we ask that you consider displaying it please.

The horror continues with the Independent reporting that 30 were killed by Israeli fire at one of the food points yesterday 31 May. Israel will not allow independent journalists into Gaza so claims are often hard to verify.

The current estimate is that 54,000 have now died in Gaza including many women and children.

Vigil poster 2025 copyDownload
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UK lawyer make questionable remarks about Gaza


The charity UK Lawyers for Israel claim the Gaza conflict might ‘help solve obesity‘

May 2025

UPDATE: 20 May. At the Coop agm, 73% of members did vote to ban Israeli products on its shelves. The Board will now consider this decision.

Few may have heard of this charity which has a prestigious list of members and patrons. It is in the news recently (10 May) because its chief executive made some highly questionable and some might argue ill-judged remarks about the effect on the conflict in Gaza on its citizens. He was referring to a letter published on July 20th 2024 in the Lancet in which the estimate of those killed in the conflict might reach 186,000. The death toll at the time was around 37,000.

The Coop was to debate a motion from its members [No 13] to stop trading with Israel in view of the death toll in Gaza. The motion quotes the Lancet estimate. The UKLFI chief executive Jonathan Turner objected to the Coop motion saying:

“We first pointed out that the letter published in the Lancet on 20 July 2024, to which the motion evidently referred, did not claim that 186,000 Gazans had died in the current war. It did, however, claim – without foundation – that 186,000 Gaza would be likely to die eventually as a result of the war.

“So we pointed out, secondly, that this claim was based on entirely unfounded speculation, which also ignored factors that might result in lengthening the lives of Gazans, given the public health situation existing in Gaza prior to the war, including the extent of obesity. These factors include the possible reduction in the availability of confectionery and cigarettes”.

“In the context in which they were made, our statements were accurate and objective.” (our italics).

The full text can be read here. This might be seen in hindsight as a somewhat warped view of the conflict and on reflection, an apology issued to withdraw them. However, the Guardian article is referenced on their website without any sign of such an apology or retraction [accessed 11 May at 07:00].

The charity’s objectives are – [The] UKLFI Charitable Trust was set up by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI Ltd), which is is an association of lawyers who support Israel and seek to ensure that the rights of Israel and Israelis are respected.

The charity has a range of reports which seek to counter the narratives which appears in the media. These reports have the appearance of research reports with copious references and footnotes. However, on closer inspection the references do not always support the claims made of them. For example, the bombing of hospitals is usually because the IDF claim they are hiding Hamas operations of various kinds. This is the justification for their destruction. Very little evidence is produced by the IDF. In the charity’s report on this there is still no evidence. Indeed one reference is of an article in Haaretz from 2009, some years before the current conflict which says ‘Intelligence officers suspect’ [the Hamas operations]. Other references do not always support the claims made. The report denying a famine in Gaza was produced in 2024 before the current blockade. Among the conclusions to one report is the plea for ‘more transparency’. This is difficult since foreign journalists are not allowed into the area and the high death toll of those who are – 178 journalist and media workers have been killed in the current hostilities.

UKLFI has a list of patrons of some note. They include Lord Dyson; Lady Cosgrove; Baroness Deech; Stephen Hocken KC; Lord Pannick; Lord Grabiner KC and Lord Howard (formerly the MP Michael Howard). Many are well connected in the British establishment.

One has to question the wisdom of an organisation replete with KCs, other notables and members of the House of Lords, making a claim of this kind. Together with the reports on its site, the purpose seems to be to deny, deny and deny despite the mounting evidence of death and destruction wrought by the IDF. They have threatened the government with legal action over its decision to withhold a limited number of arms licences [not ‘all arms licences’ as the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy twice falsely claimed in a BBC interview last week].

Over 52,000 have now died in Gaza.

Sources: Campaign to Protect Journalists, UKLFI; Guardian; Wikipedia

American readers: a KC is a King’s Counsel which is a barrister of at least 10 years standing who is appointed by the monarch as someone ‘learned in the law’.

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Vigil #73 and the ‘Pan Plan’


Our ‘duty to starve Gazans’ says Likud member

April 2025

The seventy third vigil took place yesterday 26 April with at one point 40 in attendance. It is surprising that this has kept going with good support. A feature this time was a lot of photographs taken by passers by. The situation in Gaza goes from bad to worse with all aid cut off and starvation likely. Scenes of people clamouring for food is shocking especially as many are children. Unwra and World Food Programme say their stocks of food are exhausted. The Israeli government says adequate food and medical supplies are being allowed in but Hamas are stealing them. As journalists are not allowed in it is difficult to verify but this seems very unlikely.

There was a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Thursday last week on Holocaust Memorial Day to remember the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis. But it took on a different meaning for some Israelis who are concerned about the killing of thousands of people in Gaza which has now passed 51,000 with more dying in daily strikes. Many women staged a demonstration holding empty cooking pots to symbolise the starvation of people in Gaza.

For some Israeli politicians this is deliberate policy. As Haaretz has reported:

Israeli lawmaker Moshe Saada of PM Netanyahu’s Likud party said in an interview on Channel 14 that it’s Israel’s “duty” to starve Gazans. Criticizing the IDF chief, who reportedly said he does not intend to follow such a policy, Saada said, “I do intend to starve the Gazans – that’s our duty. Our duty is to expel the Gazans.” (Image: Israel National News)

Vigil 74 – change of approach

Next Saturday’s vigil – number 74 – will be in a different form. Attendees are asked to bring an empty cooking pot of some kind (steel, aluminium), to echo the protest Israeli women took in Tel Aviv last week.

Vigil No. 73

Sources: Haaretz, Channel 14, Guardian

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The future for Hamas


BBC World Service discusses the role of Hamas in Gaza

April 2025

In all the reporting of the war in Gaza and the mounting death toll, we seldom get to hear much about Hamas, the organisation largely in control. Their name is frequently mentioned but beyond that, we hear very little. On the BBC’s World Service (24 April) there was a discussion about this group and its future.

Protests against them are mounting with people reportedly shouting things like ‘Hamas is garbage’ and ‘All Hamas out’. Speaking out against the group is dangerous the programme notes as such people are beaten, tortured or killed for daring to protest. Particular instances were quoted of people murdered or violently attacked and there were interviews with some in hiding or in other parts of the world.

There has been an instance where a local community in the north of Gaza who’s local residents prevented Hamas from firing rockets. Despite firing on the crowd, the gunmen were successfully driven out.

An organisation called the Centre for Peace Communications has representatives in the area who over a period of 4 years have been interviewing people to establish their views. They report that opposition to Hamas has swelled and many are blaming them for the tragedy and destruction following October 7th. There is a preference for the PLO and a desire for Hamas to cease being a ‘governing actor’. It was interesting to note that young people felt this way. Joseph Braude of CPC made clear that people are anti both Hamas and Israel. This does not absolve Israel from responding in the ways it has and the disproportionate destruction it has wrought on the territory and its people.

Overall, Hamas is now considered to be ‘very weak’. Having suffered terribly over the past 18 months one can sympathise with people living in the increasingly desperate circumstances and their anger at the people who have brought this upon them.

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Gaza: situation deteriorates further


Situation in Gaza goes from bad to worse. No end in sight. 51,000 dead

April 2025

This Easter weekend, Christians celebrate the resurrection and it is a national holiday. People take the opportunity to relax over the weekend. Not far from where the events being celebrated, the situation in Gaza goes from bad to worse. Around 51,000 are now dead the great majority of whom are women and children. The ceasefire has ended and since then, 1,650 have been killed in bombing by the IDF. Food, fuel and humanitarian aid has been cut off and water supplies are precarious.

In addition to the destruction of vast swathes of the territory, Israel has now annexed a further 10% by creating 1 km wide ‘buffer zones’ around it. Reuters reports that around 20% of the land has been seized by Israeli forces. Within these zones, properties have been demolished. No one is allowed into these zones without risk of death. Armoured bulldozers have systematically levelled one home after another. Combat engineers have laid explosives and triggered controlled demolitions inside once bustling factories. IDF forces have torn up and denied Palestinians any access to the fertile farmland that once sustained lives and livelihoods. The map shows the huge extent of these zones:

‘witnessing forced destruction and displacement‘

Within Gaza itself, the situation goes from bad to worse. A spokesperson for Médecins sans Frontières said we are “witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population of Gaza.” There appears to be no likelihood of peace talks taking place.

Undoubtedly, Netanyahu feels emboldened in his actions following the statement by President Trump that Palestinians should be removed from Gaza and the area developed as a ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ effectively amounting to ethnic cleansing. He was the first foreign leader to visit the White House following Trump’s election for the second time.

A positive sign is the reporting of events in Gaza in a more robust fashion by UK media. Efforts at balance has meant unsupported claims by Israel sources were treated as fact. Destruction of hospitals and other facilities were because they were ‘Hamas control centres’ with seldom any evidence that they were (indeed, has there been any evidence that they were?). An internet search reveals almost no substantive evidence to support the claims. Israel has refused access to foreign journalists meaning claims could not be verified on either side. Even words lost their meaning. Hamas seized 250 ‘hostages’ on October 7th which is true. In exchanges, it is reported that ‘hostages’ were exchanged for ‘prisoners’ from Israeli gaols. Since many of the ‘prisoners’ had never been charged let alone tried, had been held without access to lawyers and in locations unknown to the Red Crescent or their families, how is that different from being a hostage?

The UK government has at last begun to toughen its language and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has recently said Israel’s decision to block aid is ‘unacceptable, hugely alarming and very worrying’. It also suggests the county is breaking international law, the first time it has acknowledged this.

Vigil

On Easter Saturday, the 72nd vigil was held in Salisbury with over 30 attending. Two American visitors to the City from California spent time with us.

Sources: BBC, Haaretz, Yahoo News, Reuters, CNN, MSF, NPR (National Public Radio, Washington), Guardian.

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British Jews speak out about Israel


Board of Deputies of British Jews write open letter criticising Israel’s actions

April 2025

UPDATE: 24 April

The Deputies who wrote the letter to the Financial Times face disciplinary action which seems to indicate there are many tensions in the British Jewish community over the war in Gaza in which over 51,000 have now died. The vice-chair has been suspended. All those who wrote are subject to the complaints procedure according to a statement by the Board. The Board has received ‘multiple complaints’ it said from the public and Deputies.

This is a brave move by the Deputies. Around one in eight have written the letter published in the Financial Times on 15th. One of their number was interviewed on various channels on 16 April and said they could no longer ‘turn a blind eye or stay silent’ in view of the violence. This is the most extremist of Israeli governments they claim which is openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, strangling the Palestinian economy and building more new settlements than ever. ‘Israel’s soul is being ripped out’ and as members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, they fear for the future of the Israel they love and have such close ties to. Until now, they have been supportive of the Israeli government.

Not all Board members agreed and a senior member of the Board is quoted in an article in the Jewish Chronicle:

“[…] The publication of the campaign has been met with a divided reaction in the British community. A senior member of the Board of Deputies described the move as “an incredibly badly advised decision,” adding: “[It is] highly divisive and inappropriate in undermining [Board president] Phil Rosenberg so publicly in a national forum. As British Jews, we should not be commenting on what is effectively an Israeli political matter.”

People who criticise Israel face accusations of anti-Semitism and more recently, being ‘supporters of Hamas’. This has been the standard, knee-jerk almost, response to such criticisms. The Board’s spokesman, Baron Frankal, in the Channel 4 interview said he has received a lot of supportive comments. It will be difficult for the Israeli’s to level these accusations against the Board of Deputies.

Over 50,000 have now been killed in the conflict, the majority women and children, and all aid has been cut off for weeks. There are accusations of genocide being perpetrated.

We in Salisbury continue to hold vigils on Saturday in the market square and all are welcome to join.

Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine’s site.

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Vigil 71


71st vigil in Salisbury

April 2025

Fewer numbers this week partly because the events in Washington dominating the news and a number of our regulars away or ill. This week we had three sets of people variously upset with our presence. It would be difficult to summarise their arguments some of which were around the boat people, which is not an issue with Gaza at present, and another claiming we were ‘wasting our time’. Strange to relate how a peaceful protest seems to generate animosity. The government has introduced legislation to limit noisy demonstrations in certain circumstances yet here was a peaceful protest – peaceful as in silent – which upset several people.

The situation is Gaza goes from bad to worse. Over 50,000 are now dead. The Israelis have widened the buffer zone around the strip and turned it into a killing zone. The ceasefire has ended. Netanyahu was welcomed in Washington. All aid has been cut off. A UN study (11 April) has shown that the last 36 Israeli air strikes killed 1,500 all of whom were women and children.

The apparent murder of Red Crescent medical staff has continued to make waves as the false story put out by the IDF has unwound with video and other evidence emerging. A shocking feature was the attempt at cover up and hastily digging a grave and burying the 15 people.

There seems no end in sight. The UK government continues to give support to Israel openly and covertly. The RAF is flying almost daily over the region ostensibly to try and track hostages. About 250 flights have happened in the last 6 months. The question is, if they are carrying out this surveillance (officially called Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR) are they not witnessing war crimes? Clearly, to spot a hostage would require sophisticated kit and it is reasonable to assume it would be capable of witnessing other events. Is this being logged and reported? As the Canadian researcher who is tracking these flights has said:

“They’re [RAF] in a warzone apparently rife with atrocities, and I think it’s very reasonable to ask if they’ve been witness to any war crimes, if they’ve incidentally collected intelligence that could reasonably believed to involve a war crime, and if so, what is their process to deal with that? If they don’t yet want to talk about what they’ve been doing for the past six months for truly operational security reasons, they already told us they would be operating there 6 months ago, they should be able to assure us their process is sound vis-a-vis unintentional intelligence collection involving/witnessing atrocities.”

These are serious questions for the UK government to answer.

Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine

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