Category: Israel

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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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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70th Vigil


Gaza: ‘These atrocities were committed in our name’ Haaretz

April 2025

It seems almost unbelievable that a group of people come together every Saturday to stand in a vigil for half an hour on behalf of peace in the Middle East. The horror of October 7th 2023 brought us together but this has been superseded by Israel’s response involving around 50,000 deaths – including many women and children – and the massive destruction of large parts of Gaza. However, things may have changed this week.

There was initially, a large measure of sympathy for Israel and the death of around 1,200 of its people and the taking of 251 hostages. Retaliation was expected but the scale of it has exceeded anything imaginable and is now regarded as a war crime.

Deliberate destruction?

The bombing seemed indiscriminate which is probably a mistaken description. There seems to have been a deliberate attempt to destroy community facilities of one sort or another: schools, hospitals, clinics, water plants and places of worship were all targeted. The reason given in each case was that they were places where Hamas were operating and were often said to be ‘control centres’. Since independent journalists are not allowed in, Israeli claims could not be verified. All aid and electricity has been cut off.

Western media has solemnly reported after a bombing of a hospital say, that Israel had targeted the building because Hamas was using it as a human shield or that it was a control centre. Little or no evidence was ever produced. Thus media have been complicit in their quest for ‘balance’ by reporting the reason for the death of women and children was because of Hamas were somehow involved or were hidden in the hospital.

This week has seen the discovery of a grave in which the decaying bodies of 15 Palestinian medical staff from Red Crescent, and one UN member, were discovered. They were all shot one by one, one man had his hands tied. It looked like an execution in other words. We initially had the usual story that the vehicles were approaching ‘suspiciously’ and without lights. Footage has now appeared to show the vehicles did have lights on and flashing lights. One man was led away blindfolded and his whereabouts is unknown. No weapons were found so claims that they were Hamas were untrue. This incident has shown the standard response by the IDF to killings is unreliable and untrustworthy. It is probable that without independent verification of claims made by IDF, which are reported as fact by western media, it has led to a degree of cavalier carelessness with the truth. Such is the accumulation of evidence about this incident, that Israel has said it will mount an investigation.

Haaretz reports (April 6th) that the 15 dead join around a thousand other medical and aid workers killed in the conflict. It says that the IDF is ignoring both its own and international rules of conflict in the area. The other worrying trend – the undisciplined behaviour of Israeli forces – has spilled over into the West Bank the paper reports where violence against Palestinians has increased markedly. In an editorial they say: “Even though this government would like the war to continue forever, it will end someday. And on that day, the IDF and Israeli society as a whole will be forced to look in the mirror and deal with the knowledge that these atrocities were committed in our name”.

A video of the 70th vigil is available here.

Link to the website of Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine (SCIP)

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Vigil number 70


We hold our seventieth vigil today, Saturday 5th April

April 2025

POST AMENDED

The 70th vigil was held in Salisbury on Saturday 5th April in the market place. We none of us thought when we started over a year ago that we would still be holding these every Saturday come rain or shine.

This week’s news is especially awful with yet more Palestinian medical staff found dead and buried in a shallow grave in southern Gaza, at least one with his hands tied. They were in clearly marked Red Crescent medical vehicles entering what was supposed to be a safe zone. It made the lead news item in today’s World at One (BBC Radio 4 programme 2 April). The IDF responded in the usual way that the vehicles were coming towards a checkpoint and there were no lights on. The story seems to be falling apart however. The usual Hamas terrorist arguments were trotted out but it now appears there were no weapons. Fortunately there is a survivor to explain what happened. There is evidence that two of the men were murdered after being detained. The use of bulldozers to bury the evidence indicates that this is a war crime. [Text amended 2 April]. We may return to this topic if more information comes to hand.

The programme about the West Bank on ITV the other evening was unpleasant viewing. It showed a settler gradually invading Palestinian land. What was shocking was his contempt for them and spoke in terms of clearing them away. He stopped next to some newly planted olive trees on their land and said he wasn’t going to clear them away now because the camera was on but it was obvious he would be back later.

It does appear that some of our broadcasters are beginning to report on what is happening in the West Bank and Gaza more fully despite reporting restrictions imposed by Israel and to give it due prominence. It puts the pusillanimous response by the UK government in the spotlight and their continuing failure to stop arms shipments is shocking. The obsession with ‘growth’ should not mean growth at all costs if genocide is at the end of it.

West Bank violence is increasing, Haaretz has reported on a large number of attacks, with livestock killed or stolen and a boy in charge of a flock was recently murdered by settlers they believe. IDF soldiers are seen standing by while settlers throw stones and carry out their attacks.

Here is a video of No 69 courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

Link to Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine

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Gaza: don’t say you don’t know


Vigil number 68

March 2025

The violence continues. Israel has ended the ceasefire and over a hundred have been killed in the recent bombing in Gaza. Encouraged by President Trump and his desire to see some kind of Riviera on the Mediterranean coast, the IDF has restarted its bombing campaign. There can be little pretence that peace and a two state solution is anywhere present in current thinking.

To criticise Israel is to court being called ‘antisemitic’ a kneejerk reaction which has been immensely powerful. Many publications are wary of inviting this slur. It is very encouraging therefore to read of criticisms coming from within Israel itself and in particular in the Haaretz newspaper. A recent article by its editor Aluf Benn, is testimony to this [registration may be needed].

The images on our screens are truly horrific. A landscape of demolished buildings; mountains of rubble; hoards of people moving from one ‘safe zone’ to the next; rows of corpses and parents clutching dead infants. The scale of the response, with Netanyahu promising even worse to come, is demonstrably a crime against humanity. All supported by the United States and now Donald Trump with vague notions of moving 2 million Palestinians out of the territory to some other country.

Britain continues to support Israel and the RAF are reported to be overflying Gaza a largely unreported fact. And of course we are still selling them arms. We are thus complicit in these terrible events.

The 68th Vigil was held yesterday in the Market Place in Salisbury with around 35 in attendance. We are grateful to Peter Gloyns for a moving video.

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And the vigils continue


The 66th vigil held in Salisbury

March 2025

The plan was to hold the final vigil a few weeks ago with the hopeful news of a cease fire and talks being held in Qatar. The recent news is far from encouraging. The death toll stands at 48,000 with more being added to most days.

The situation now has worsened considerably. Aid convoys have been stopped and today, Israel has announced that it is cutting off all electric power. Quite apart from the effects on a state with 2 million people, the desalination plants cannot operate neither can the treatment plants. These moves target the whole population and are using water, aid and now electricity as a weapon of war.

The UK has asked the Israeli government to reverse the decision saying it risks breaking international

law. The Qatari Foreign Ministry says Israel’s actions are ‘a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and of humanitarian law’.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that IDF soldiers are accused of using Palestinians as human shields a story also reported on in the Times of Israel. New rules issues by the Central Command enables soldiers to fire on Palestinians in the West Bank whether they are armed or not.

We shall be continuing our vigil and the next one is on Saturday 15th March starting at 5pm.

Main photo: Peter Gloyns

Impact of Middle East Conflicts on Refugees in Turkey


War in Middle East and its effects March 2026 Although war reporting generates a lot of commentary on the deaths of those caught up in the conflicts, the effects on refugees and those displaced receives much less attention. With the new war(s) in the Middle East, refugees are again in the news. So far, most…

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Death in Florida


Ron De Santis continues his campaign of executions March 2026 We have recently drawn attention to individual executions being carried out in Florida as part, it is claimed, of governor De Santis’s desire to show he is tough on crime. Florida is known as the ‘sunshine state’ but a pall is cast over it by…

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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…

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Abuse of medical staff by Israel


Reports of torture, beatings, starvation and humiliation of Palestinian medical staff by Israeli authorities

February 2025

With the welcome release of hostages from Gaza as part of the peace process, there has been considerable coverage of the condition of those arriving back home in Israel. Some have died in custody either as a result of bombing by Israel or by other means. Since journalists are not allowed in Gaza, obtaining independent confirmation of which is difficult. Those released have looked thin and haggard and Hamas used the process to make propaganda points. There have been no reports of torture or mistreatment however. Further coverage has shown their reception in Israel with large crowds welcoming them home.

Credible reports are emerging of the treatment of Palestinian medical people in Israel prisons. Health Care Workers Watch in a report published in December last year (accessible on their site) paints an horrific picture of their treatment. Medical staff, including surgeons, have been seized in hospitals – sometimes in the midst of performing surgery – and subjected to sustained brutal treatment and torture in Israel. Similar reports are produced by the World Health Organisation.

Medical staff have been thrown into lorries and have suffered severe beatings leaving them incapable of standing, The range of mistreatment is horrific and the detailed descriptions disturbing. In brief the treatment has included: beatings, often using rifle butts; severe injuries to genitalia; anal rape – again often with rifles; use of dogs; electrocution, sometimes while suspended from the ceiling; people forced into stress positions; prolonged solitary confinement; extremely loud music to prevent sleep, and not allowing medical prisoners to wash or change clothes for sustained periods of time sometimes months. All were eventually released without charge. WHO suggests that 297 medical staff were held, HCWW claim it was 384.

The reports paint a picture that suggests these arrests, combined with the attacks and destruction of medical facilities in Gaza itself, are part of a plan to make the territory unliveable. The reports are supported by evidence from an Israeli organisation, Physicians for Human Rights in Israel. They have visited prisoners and carried out their own interviews supporting the above allegations. A CNN report provides further horrific details. The Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem published a report Welcome to Hell describing the cruelties and torture inflicted in Israeli prisons more widely. There is also a report by Human Rights Watch on the torture of Palestinian medics. The Israeli government has denied all these allegations saying prisoners are held and treated according to law.

People reading this post may be surprised at the information above. This is because of the widespread failure of media to report it. There is considerable coverage of the homecomings and of the release of Hamas detainees whereas the treatment described here has received limited coverage.

The importance of language

Language is important no more so than during a time of conflict. Media reports describe those released by Hamas as ‘hostages’ in exchange for ‘prisoners’ being released by Israel. This is the language used by BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and print media to describe these events. It has become the standard way to describe them. It is thoroughly misleading. It demonstrates the capture of British media by the steady drip of Israeli misinformation combined with banning journalists access on the ground. It may also be an indication of the fear media groups have of being labelled ‘antisemitic’. Almost all criticism of Israel is labelled thus. Such criticism gives rise to accusations of the critic being ‘pro Hamas’. It is conveniently forgotten that Benyamin Netanyahu was a supporter of the organisation in an attempt to weaken the PLO.

Considerable evidence – from within the country and outside – shows that Israel has seized scores of medics (the subject of this post), threw them into lorries and subjected them to sustained periods of torture, abuse, did not allowed access to lawyers and with no charges made. How is this different from hostages? The word ‘prisoner’ implies some process of law. It also implies that said prisoners had committed some kind of crime. Yet no charges were made, none were taken before a magistrate, none were allowed legal representation and they were eventually released without charge after prolonged periods of mistreatment, solitary confinement and torture.

This has enabled Israel to occupy a kind of higher moral ground. The country suffered terribly on October 7th. Hamas killed 1,200*, seized hostages in their fearful raid on October 7th 2023 and held them for months and it still holds on to some. This is a war crime. Yet Israel’s subsequent behaviour, killing around 48,300 in Gaza with over 111,000 injured (WHO figures) and the vast destruction and mounting violence in the West Bank, has lost the nation much sympathy. It has not solved its central problem of long-term security and the prospects for a two state solution seem further away than ever.

Western media, by failing to report on these issues, is guilty of misleading the public.

Sources: WHO; CNN; Guardian; Health Care Workers Watch; Physicians for Human Rights in Israel; B’Tselem; Human Rights Watch. See also Health Workers for Palestine

*revised figure – Times of Israel 11 November 2023.

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Angry response to vigil article


January 2025

There has been an angry series of responses to the article published in the Salisbury Journal

Our last post was to draw attention to a piece in this week’s Salisbury Journal (30 January) reporting on the vigils which have taken place in Salisbury for over a year now. They are silent, last half an hour and the main theme is peace in Gaza. It is worth noting that the death toll is around 46,000 but the Lancet suggests it is higher because many bodies lie undiscovered in the rubble.

The article has prompted a large number of almost exclusively critical ‘below the line’ comments some of which have attracted 70, 80 or more ‘likes’ [accessed 31.01.25, 21:38]. Two drew attention to the fact it was published on Holocaust Memorial Day and said that whoever on the Journal decided to publish it ‘should be fired’, that it was ‘not appropriate’ and they ‘should hang their heads in shame’. This is to misunderstand the themes behind the day which the Holocaust Memorial Trust points out is about empathising with people today and helping to build a better future. Of course it is about the terrible events during the war and the millions of Jews and others murdered by the Nazis. But is also reminding us that violence on the scale we have seen in Gaza and its indiscriminate nature is also a cause of great concern. [UPDATE: 2 February. The adverse comments attracted over 700 ‘likes’]

Another called it ‘unbelievably crass’ to pass on unfiltered pro-Hamas views. It is difficult to see where a description of a peaceful vigil can be described as ‘pro-Hamas’. It was also described as a ‘demonstration’. It was not. One wrote: ‘on Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, Isabella Holliday [the journalist who’s by-line was at the top of the article] has failed in her professional duty as a journalist, to write an accurate unbiased article on the Israel/Hamas conflict’. It was not such a piece.

Other wild comments include the assertion that ‘Hamas is responsible for all the civilian deaths in Gaza and that most of the casualties are Hamas terrorists’. Since around 15,000 of the deaths are children this is a bold claim and demonstrably untrue. The hostility of the comments might come as a surprise since the vigil is just that: between 30 or 40 people typically, who come together each week to express their concern for the violence that is taking place. There is no visible or overt support for Hamas. It might be worth remembering that it was Benjamin Netanyahu who did support Hamas according to the Times of Israel and others.

Last week was meant to be the last, and we welcomed the cease fire and the release of some of the hostages with more to come out. But the increase in violence on the West Bank, the ending of aid provided by Unwra, and the possible appointment of Mike Huckabee as the US ambassador, led to the decision to continue.

Hamas has not been destroyed. Gaza has been reduced to rubble. At least 46,000 Palestinians have died and many thousands injured. Channel 4 News featured some distressing images of injured children unable to get proper medical help (31 January). Almost nothing has been achieved and certainly not the long term security of Israel. It is disappointing to see so many hostile comments and the large numbers of people who appear to like them i.e. approve of them.

The next vigil will take place tomorrow, 1st February as usual.

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Vigils to continue


Vigils to continue. Violence intensifies on the West Bank

January 2025

In a previous post we said we hoped that tonight’ vigil (25 January) would be the last following the cease fire deal agreed. It seems we were a trifle premature. Although the deal is holding for the moment with three more hostages released today, violence in the West Bank has escalated with settlers attacking Palestinian villages and setting fire to homes and vehicles.

“No such thing as a Palestinian” Mike Huckabee

But the biggest worry is the future with the impending appointment of Mike Huckabee as the US Ambassador to Israel. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has nominated former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee who is a strong defender of Israel who once argued that there was “no such thing as a Palestinian.”

Trump is quoted as saying: “Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”

Gov. Huckabee has been staunchly pro-Israeli throughout his career – including on what he says is the country’s claims to the West Bank. On Wednesday he said it was “of course” possible that the US would back the Israeli government if it were to try and annex the Israeli-occupied territory. The full throated support for Israel’s claims to the West Bank and the denial of a Palestinian state or indeed a two state solution, can only mean an increase in tensions in the area. The Atlantic reports that the majority of American Jews (66%) support a two state solution. He has also gone further than most US politicians with his stance on the West Bank saying: “There is no such thing as a West Bank. It’s Judea and Samaria. There’s no such thing as a settlement, they’re communities, they’re neighbourhoods, they’re cities.”

As a result, we shall be continuing with our vigil and we shall be back next Saturday 1st February at 5pm. Over 40 attended today (25 January) and we had a display of flowers thinking we had a small thing to celebrate. The increased violence in the West Bank and Huckabee’s likely appointment means continued violence is a likelihood.

Sources include: Jewish Chronicle, The Atlantic, CNN,

Amended, 26th Jan

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The penultimate Vigil?


Will tomorrows Vigil, the 60th, be our last?

January 2025

Around 40 attended this evenings Vigil in Salisbury (18th January) with the highest number of passers-by stopping to join us even if it was for a short while. Tomorrow, the peace process starts with another 6 weeks of negotiations to discuss a peace deal. Will it hold? Listening to Netanyahu’s address this evening, it does not look promising. As the Israeli human rights organisation Gisha says ‘we are hopeful but not optimistic’.

Penultimate Salisbury Vigil for peace?

There are many problems for both sides to overcome. This deal has been achieved largely through American pressure. The fundamentals of the conflict remain unresolved. The factors which research shows lead to the ending of hostilities are only partially present. One factor for example, is the exhaustion of both sides with losses of soldiers and weaponry making further advances difficult. Another factor is the public getting tired of the war with restrictions and higher prices. This does not look to be true here. Israel has lost around 900 soldiers. The Israeli public is largely supportive and the Americans are committed to supplying as much weaponry as needed. Hamas is much reduced but not eliminated.

Netanyahu said the IDF will keep control of the Philadelphi corridor with more troops. Gaza will remain contained. In his statement last evening, he said Israel can re-enter Gaza at any time. A lot will depend on aid being allowed in.

We must hope that peace will hold and the first phase is successful with hostage and prisoner swaps successfully achieved. A video of the Vigil can be viewed here. It is noteworthy that the local MP for Salisbury Mr John Glen, has never appeared at any of the 59 Vigils.

We will hold our 60th Vigil today, Saturday 25th January at 5pm as usual. If you are planning to come, please bring flowers.

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