Category: Israel

This month’s Death Penalty report


Report for mid – February to mid – March

March 2026

We are pleased to attach this month’s report on the use of the death penalty around the world thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. It features several US states, Iran, Israel and India. We note as ever that China is thought to be the world’s largest executioner of its citizens but details are a state secret.

Report (Word)Download

Recent posts:

0

Yet more violence in the Middle East


Vigil continues with Israeli and US attacks on Iran

March 2026

For 118 weeks now, we have held a vigil in Salisbury with the theme peace in the Middle East. Around 30 attended yesterday (7 March) and the hope must be that one day it would end. Any such hopes were dashed last week when Israel led an attack on Tehran and other Iranian cities followed by the Americans. They claim that all Iranian air defences are destroyed together with their air force and navy. The attacks continue and Israel has now restarted its attacks on Lebanon.

The objectives of the latest campaign are unclear. One aspect is to destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions which President Trump has already claimed were destroyed. The other is to enable regime change and initially that appears to have happened because the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei and his top aids, were tracked to a location enabling them to be assassinated. There was a hope that the people of Iran would rise up and evict the regime.

Thus the violence has continued and taken on a new life. There have been many implications well aired in the press: retaliation from Iran and its dramatic effects on the Gulf states, the closure of the Straights of Hormuz with its effects on oil and gas prices and the closure of the important air hub at Dubai. International stock markets have fallen and energy prices have risen dramatically.

It has also had ramifications for UK politics basically between those who think we should support Israel and the US and those who do not think yet more bombing and violence is a way to conduct foreign affairs. Arguments have surfaced about Britain’s role in offering support via its bases in Fairford Gloucestershire, Cyprus and the Indian Ocean. Initially denied, within days they were made available to the Americans.

The most damaging feature of this latest violence is the erosion of international law. Attacks on foreign states has rapidly become normal behaviour. As ever, it is not the leaders and politicians who suffer, but those at the receiving end of missile, drone and bombing attacks.

“The escalating crisis in the Middle East poses a grave threat to multilateralism and to the integrity of the international legal order. Unlawful acts by parties to the conflict, particularly those committed by influential states, not only endanger civilians across multiple countries, but also accelerate the erosion of the global norms that are essential for the protection of human rights and global peace and security.” Agnès Callamard, Secretary General, Amnesty International. (March 3rd)

Previous posts:

Thought of becoming a subscriber?

0

Vigil on the day war threatens in Middle East


The 117th vigil took place on the day Israel and US attack Iran

March 2026

Reports today (March 1st) that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead killed by an air strike from Israel. President Trump promised to end foreign wars yet here we are with US and Israeli forces engaged in bombing Iran. There have been retaliations by Iran. The UK’s involvement is as yet unclear but RAF jets are reported to be airborne in defence of some Gulf states and no doubt other assistance has been offered.

About 30 attended the 117th vigil in Salisbury in what seems almost a forlorn hope of seeing peace in the region. To engage in yet more military actions with all the tens of thousands already dead, seems an utterly pointless exercise which may bring short-term advantages but has no prospect of longer term stability.

Both Israel and the US are concerned by Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Yet no mention is ever made that Israel is a nuclear state. The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation estimate the country has 90 such weapons and sufficient nuclear material for another 100. Considerable secrecy surrounds this fact and needless to say western media almost never mention it.

Part of the rationale for these recent attacks is to rid Iran of its murderous leadership the head of which appears to have been killed yesterday. The idea that the death of Khamenei is going to lead to some kind of peaceful conclusion and regime change is fanciful. Even if the current regime is deposed in some kind of coup or insurrection, who knows who or what will replace them? There is no obvious successor and the immediate outcome is likely to be instability. This action is more to do with domestic troubles being experienced by Messrs Trump and Netanyahu. And what about the Board of Peace?

Israeli supporting press are broadly in favour. Bringing peace, human rights and stability to a country by dropping bombs on it seems an odd way to go about things. We tried that in Iraq…

0

Palestine Action ban lifted: for now


High Court finds the ban on Palestine Action ‘disproportionate’

February 2026

The High Court has ruled that the ban on Palestine Action is disproportionate and banning it unlawful. The ban remains in place however as the government is minded to appeal the decision which will take place later this month. The decision is a major victory for the right of free speech and the right of assembly. Liberty and Amnesty have both appealed to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to respect the decision. It represents a severe blow to the government. Around 2,500 have been arrested during protests.

It is worth remembering the way PA was banned by the then Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Almost certainly she knew the likelihood of achieving a successful vote in parliament was unlikely, so they were lumped in with two extreme white supremacist groups, the Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russia Imperial Movement. Labour members were then whipped to pass the measure. Local MPs Sir Desmond Swayne and Danny Kruger both voted with the government. John Glen MP is not shown as voting. At one stage, the Home Office attempted to suggest they were funded by Iran, a story The Times and the Daily Telegraph fell for, but which they now no longer support.

The Board of Deputies for British Jews are reported to be extremely concerned by the ruling. Lord Sumption interview on the BBC’s PM programme thought the decision vulnerable on appeal. He thought the problem for the government was that the ‘overreach’ of the legislation which meant those holding banners or placards were arrested. He thought PA a ‘thoroughly nasty organisation’.

The government seems particularly determined to clamp down on this organisation and to continue its support for Israel despite the fearful loss of life in Gaza now put at over 72,000. Violence in the West Bank continues apace with estimates of over 1,000 deaths with many more driven from their homes by settler violence.

Elbit Systems, the Israeli arms firm with plants in the UK, has been at the centre of the protests. It manufactures drones which are alleged to be used in Gaza to commit war crimes, a claim Elbit denies.

This is undoubted good news but whether it will survive the Appeal Court remains to be seen. One way or another, by legislating against protest, arresting supporters doing no more than wave placards, and planting fake stories in gullible and compliant media, the government seems determined to support Israel whatever it does and how ever many people it kills or drives from their homes.

Sources: Sky News, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, CAAT, Jewish Chronicle.

Recent posts:

12

Latest arms trade news


Latest CAAT newsletter reveals UK role in killing around the world

January 2026

The Winter 2025 edition of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) news discusses the many issues to do with the supply of arms by the UK and others internationally. The government frequently claims to employ ‘robust’ measures to control the trade which has much potential to cause misery around the world, but the facts seem to suggest otherwise: CAAT reveals the top two purchasers of weapons are two nations which have abysmal human rights records. In the period 2020 – 2025, the top country for our weapons was Saudi Arabia at £6.4bn and second was Qatar at £4.1bn. Further down the list, is UAE at £825m.

All these countries do not permit opposition to exist, torture is widely practised, human rights lawyers and activists are routinely arrested, and women are not equal citizens. Foreign workers are treated dreadfully and the gleaming towers which feature in their promotional videos involve the deaths of many hundreds of indentured labourers.

Needless to say, Israel features and the UK governments continued support for arms sales despite the genocide taking place there. Interestingly, they report that Spain has ceased all arms sales and Germany likewise. It had been reported that the German Chancellor has reduced sales but CAAT report that no new exports have been approved.

The claim by the UK government that it has ‘robust’ controls is contradicted by the use of the secretive Open General Export Licences (OGEL). Looking at the list of restricted destinations [accessed 23 January] one finds that Israel is not listed. CAAT say that around half our exports to Israel are by this method.

Revolving door

The scandal of the revolving door continues. This concerns senior individuals in government or the forces taking up roles for arms companies following their retirement. There is a set of rules, which are largely sidestepped, to prevent abuse by people using their contacts to further the interests of the arms companies. These are set to be abolished this year and a new system introduced following a long list of scandals. We await to see how effective the new system will be. CAAT reveals the names of two new entrants to this hall of shame: Sir Simon Bollom, Head of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support, and Sir Mark Poffley formerly Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. They will be joining Elbit Systems the Israeli arms firm which has facilities in the UK. They can use their influence to promote the interests of Elbit Systems. CAAT say there is no suggestion of impropriety.

A lengthy Private Eye report on this corruption, lists many names of politicians and others involved.

RAF flights over Gaza

The RAF continues to overfly GAZA and there are reports that the information gathered is being used to assist the Israeli IDF. The Ministry of Defence maintains that these flights were “solely to locate hostages,” yet the scale, timing and persistence of the flights raises questions as to how much they aided Israel’s military operations despite being conducted under the banner of humanitarian intent. It is not clear that any hostages were identified by the RAF.

The CAAT newsletter, together with previous newsletters and reports, paints a picture of the UK government which is more interested in supporting sales of weapons as part of its growth policy, than in the humanitarian effects these weapons have on the millions who suffer from their use. The high use of open licences means few meaningful controls are in place. They also proudly promote and support the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) each year in London with the innocent sounding claim that it ‘promotes the UK’s defence ethos, agenda and leadership while encouraging opportunity and cooperation with our global allies‘. ​(Source, DSEI 2027 Home page).

The sums involved are large and defence (defense) firms are a key part in some local economies. Controls based on a sense of moral purpose and a proper exercise of end user certificates would curtail their activities and hence employment. It is a tail wagging a somewhat compliant dog.

Previous posts

0

Last vigil of 2025


The 108th vigil held in Salisbury

Around 30 attended the latest vigil the need for which has not diminished. Indeed it could be argued that the need is greater than ever since the topic has slid from news programmes and reporting. The Ukraine situation remains in the news as missiles and drones continue to rain down on the population there. There is talk of a peace deal and there are some optimistic noises but realistically it seems very unlikely. President Putin can see that the US simply wants the problem to go away and that Europe is too feeble and divided to represent any kind of a threat. Any ‘peace’ deal will be temporary.

Another supposed peace deal the Americans have brokered is Gaza where again reality is a long way from the rhetoric coming out of Washington.

“It is one of the most devastated places on earth” Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Programmes Gaza Office

Sky News reports that Israel will not allow heavy lifting equipment into Gaza. This obviously means the process of clearing the mountains of rubble cannot begin.

Flooding has hit the area and with people living in tents and makeshift accommodation, life is grim for Palestinians. Amnesty reports that ‘devastation from torrential rains was ‘utterly preventable’ and was fuelled by Israel’s ongoing restrictions on the entry of critical supplies to repair infrastructure’.

Israel has already seized a substantial part of the territory and almost all the cultivable parts. There is fresh evidence that the ‘Yellow Line’ is being quietly extended with fortifications being established beyond it. Satellite images show that around 53% of Gaza is now controlled by Israel. Palestinians coming near are shot by snipers or quadcopters. 414 have now been killed since the ceasefire. The death toll is put at 70,937 according to the The Peninsular Qatar and 171,192 injured. Foreign journalists are not allowed into Gaza and the BBC has reported that the Knesset has passed a law to close down yet more foreign broadcasters.

The need for the vigils continue. The next will be on 3rd January at 5pm.

Main photo: UN, tile photos, Salisbury Amnesty

0

Vigil No. 107


Latest vigil – the last before Christmas – attracts strong attendance

December 2025

Over 40 attended this latest peace vigil in Salisbury. That we should feel it necessary to continue is an indication that genuine peace in the area does not seem to be on the horizon. The BBC programme World at One during the week has transmitted from the West Bank and Jerusalem and has witnessed some of the violence against Palestinians. The presenter was surprised at young boys going out morning and evening to attack homes and property. Because they are under age they cannot be stopped, touched or in any way prevented without dire consequences it was explained.

The aftermath of the horrific attack on Jews who were killed or injured on Bondi Beach, Australia continues. An uplifting story from the tragedy was the actions of a local man Ahmed al Ahmed who wrestled the gun of one of the attackers. Some of the hardliners interviewed by the BBC seem to imply that all Arabs are motivated by a desire to kill Jews. That there are some cannot be denied in the same way that some Jews want to see all Palestinians killed or removed. But are these the majority? Reports today are of members of a Jewish pro-Palestine group who have been arrested as part of the crackdown on protests by the Labour government. An irony indeed. There are Jewish groups who are in favour of fair treatment of Palestinians one such is Jewish Network for Palestine.

It is noteworthy that this group has called out the support of the BBC for Israel and its genocide. The claim by some Israelis (on one of the BBC interviews mentioned above) that support for a Palestinian state is a ‘reward for terrorism’ is weakened by these Jewish groups. They claim – which is never challenged by the BBC and other media interviewers – that the violence started on the October 7th two years ago, conveniently forgets the horrific violence on Arabs and Palestinians in 1948/49.

The photo of a key is a symbol of when people lost their homes in 1948/49, and latterly in Gaza, kept their keys in the hope of return.

A video of the vigil can be seen here. Video and photo by courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

107 vigils attended mostly by local people but no sign of the local MP, Mr John Glen. Neither is there a mention of any of the vigils in his weekly piece in the Salisbury Journal. He is reported to be a member of the Conservatives Friends of Israel group. The link explains the range and power of this underreported organisation. A large number of MPs are members and the question is: why are MPs like Mr Glen members of a lobbying organisation for a single country? Are they not there to a) support their constituents and b) to take impartial decisions in the interests of the UK? What is their attitude to genocide and apartheid?

Previous posts:

0

UN report on torture in Israel is horrific


The UN report into how Palestinians are treated is deeply troubling

November 2025

The UN has published its sixth periodic report on Israel (along with other countries) and contains a great deal of extremely troubling material. The scale of abuse and torture is huge and the methods truly barbaric. It seems to reveal a state which thinks it can act with impunity against Palestinians no doubt reflecting on the uncritical support of the US and only feeble commentary from countries such as the UK. Below are some of the extracts (paragraph numbers at the end of each extract).

  • Israel it notes does not accept jurisdiction for those held under its jurisdiction but outside its territory (8)
  • The UN urges Israel to incorporate the use of torture as a specific crime into its domestic law (11)
  • Palestinians do not receive fundamental legal safeguards. [This is a reflection of the apartheid system operating in the country] (12)
  • All detainees should be informed of their rights, the charges made against them and a right to a lawyer. They also have a right to medical attention. (13)
  • Expresses concern about mass arrests and the use of administrative detention. (14)
  • In the same vein it is concerned about mass arrests of women, children, pregnant women, older persons on the basis of ‘real or perceived group characteristics.’ Palestinians often held incommunicado.
  • Palestinians held in very poor conditions, without sanitation, with no ventilation, running water or natural light. They are denied access to medical care. (18)
  • There are reports of prisoners being blindfolded at all times, shackled to a bed, fed through straws and forced to wear incontinence garments due to their immobilisation. Women are denied feminine hygiene products, are separated from their babies and not allowed to breast feed them. (18)
  • Children are arrested, blindfolded and subject to torture and ill-treatment. Many children are held without charge and in solitary confinement. (22)
  • The government was unable to provide information about the numbers of deaths in custody. It is believed to be at least 75 since October 7th, 2023. Haaretz in its report on this topic says 98 have died in custody but we do not know the time period. It appears to be an abnormally high number of Palestinians who have died. The bodies show signs of torture and extreme malnutrition. Independent autopsies have not been carried out. (24)
  • The International Red Cross has not been allowed to inspect prisons. (26)

THE NEXT EXTRACT IS DEEPLY TROUBLING AND CARRIES A WARNING

The UN were troubled by reports about ‘organised and widespread use of torture and ill-treatment’ of detainees. The methods used included severe beatings, dog attacks, electrocution, waterboarding, use of prolonged stress positions, sexual violence, threats against detainees and their families, insults to their personal dignity, made to act like animals and being urinated on, use of restraints such that amputations were needed, performance of surgery without anaesthetic, sexual abuse of both men and women, rape, attempted rape, beating of genitals, electrocution of genitals and anus [..] (28)

Five Israeli human rights organisation have contributed evidence. Israel sought to argue that there are adequate controls but the committee was unpersuaded. Israel has 1 year to respond. If true, then the report describes a system out of control and casts a large shadow over the nation. These do not appear to be isolated incidents but a systematic and organised abuse of Palestinian people being held often without charge in Israeli prisons. The appalling treatment of women and the torture of children is especially troubling.

Full UN report

UN report NovDownload
1

Israel proposes death penalty for Palestinians


First reading passes in the Knesset

November 2025

Israel’s intention to introduce the death penalty has been met with widespread alarm and criticism form both within and outside the country. The bill was introduced by Itama Ben-Gvir who afterwards distributed baclava pastries to celebrate. The last time Israel used the penalty – which has been on the books since the country was founded – was in 1962 for the Nazi Adolf Eichmann.

“An indelible stain on Israel” Haaretz editorial 3 November

The law as proposed, is drafted in a way to apply only to Palestinians and is another example of the

apartheid system which operates in the country. It will be administered by military courts peopled often by individuals who have little or no judicial experience.

Neither will the court have discretion since the sentence will be mandatory. It is Ben-Gvir’s claim that the penalty will be a deterrence. There is next to no evidence for this and the same arguments against the use of the penalty apply here as to the rest of the world. It is barbaric and reduces the state to the level of the perpetrators. Mistakes cannot be rectified. It is not a deterrent. One of the few notionally civilized countries which retains and uses the penalty is the US. A study there between the States with the penalty and those without found no difference in murder rates. In fact, murder rates are higher in states with the death penalty.

Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, Erika Guevara Rosas, said:

“There is no sugarcoating this; a majority of 39 Israeli Knesset members approved in a first reading a bill that effectively mandates courts to impose the death penalty exclusively against Palestinians. While the text of the bill does not specifically single out Palestinians, the mental element required for the offence concerned signals its primary victims are going to be Palestinians and would include those who committed the punishable offences before the law is passed.

“Knesset members should be working to abolish the death penalty, not broadening its application. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment, and an irreversible denial of the right to life. It should not be imposed in any circumstances, let alone weaponized as a blatantly discriminatory tool of state-sanctioned killing, domination and oppression. Its mandatory imposition and retroactive application would violate clear prohibitions set out under international human rights law and standards on the use of this punishment.“

Sources: Knesset, BBC, CNN, Haaretz; le Monde, Amnesty

Latest posts:

Thought of subscribing?

0

Vigils continue


Vigils continue. A very fragile ceasefire in place

October 2025

We held the 98th vigil yesterday (18th October) even though there is a ceasefire in place. We have debated during the last two vigils whether to carry on but the feeling is that the peace deal will not last. In the last few days and hours, 9 more have died in Gaza bringing the total to 67,967 of whom 20,179 are children. Injuries are put at 170,179 since the conflict began. There have been sporadic clashes between the IDF and Hamas the truth of which is impossible to discern. Ben-Gvir the security minister for Israel is quoted as saying to the prime minister ‘order the IDF to fully resume combat in the Gaza strip with maximum force. An air attack on Rafah took place today while this was being typed. No independent journalists have been allowed into the territory.

All the hostages have been returned but Hamas are having difficulty (they claim) in locating all of the deceased hostages under the rubble. Two more were returned today.

At present, the prospects do not look promising. Hamas has not disarmed and there was footage of executions taking place in the street. These were claimed to be members of gangs allegedly armed and funded by Israel, operating in Gaza.

Massive aid convoys have been held up on the Egyptian border.

[Below] mourner at the grave of one of the returned hostages (picture: Haaretz)

A video of the vigil can be viewed here. For those interested here is a link to all the videos produced by Peter Gloyns for whom we are grateful for permission to post them.

A copy of the report on the UK’s role in arming Israel published by CAAT is available here.

Sources: Independent, CNN, Al Jazeera, Haaretz.

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑