salisbury – Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire

Vigil No. 130 held in the wet. High level of support

June 2026

It was a damp and windy evening so we retreated to the steps of the Library for our vigil this week attended by around 25. Notable this time was the high level of support from passers by one even presenting us with a box of chocolates. Others gave us the thumbs up, took a photo on their phone or smiled in recognition of our efforts. It has been some weeks now since we have experienced a negative reaction.

It would be good to report progress with a ceasefire or some kind of improvement in the political climate. Of this there

is no sign. The situation in Gaza remains dire. The death toll (there are various estimates) is at over 73,107; of which 12,500 are women and there have been 173,000 injuries, some serious. A harrowing interview was aired on Channel 4 last week of a boy who was paralysed by shrapnel from the waist down from a tank shell. He is no longer able to play football with his friends. Harrowing footage was also aired on the BBC of an infant shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Hebron.

Wes Streeting, one of the possible contenders to become the new prime minister, has been forceful about the failure of the Labour party to call out what is happening in the region. He has been particularly critical of Sir Keir Starmer’s infamous interview on LBC in which he said Israel had the right to cut off water and power to Gaza. Attempts to deny this at the time were unconvincing.

The attacks on Lebanon are following a similar pattern with the demolition of villages and the destruction of entire blocks of flats in Tyre and elsewhere. The Times of Israel reports that over 3,000 have died in the current conflict. There is supposed to be a ‘ceasefire’. Hezbollah continue to fire rockets into Israel.

A difference with this conflict however is that there is coverage from outside media which contrasts with Gaza where they are banned. There is first hand footage and interviews with residents not possible in Gaza. This might make a difference as it enables images to be shown of the devastation which was not possible in Gaza.

A resolution to the conflict between Iran, the US and Israel is not yet in view.

Picture taken at start of the vigil – more came during the vigil.

Once again we note the continued absence of the local MP Mr John Glen from the vigils together with any mention of them in his weekly Salisbury Journal column. He along with – shamefully – a large number of MPs from all of the main parties, is a member of one of the Friends of Israel groups, believed to be the largest and best funded of all the Parliamentary lobby organisations.

Ninth vigil held in Salisbury

February 2024

Forty and sometimes over 50, have attended half hour vigils in the Market Square in Salisbury to draw attention to the terrible events going on in Gaza. Reports of over 27,000 dead, many of whom are children with thousands more injured, some seriously, represent a terrible indictment of the state of international politics today. Just over half the buildings in the strip are demolished or severely damaged as a result of the bombing. Attempts at peacekeeping and an end to the violence have so far come to naught.

Members of Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine, CND and the Amnesty group attend with others.

Nine vigils have now taken place and although attendance varies it seldom dips below 40. They begin at 17:15 for 30 minutes every Saturday in February (at least).