Rain does not deter vigil

91st vigil attracts strong attendance despite rain

August 2025

The situation in Gaza gets ever worse with 63,000 now dead many of whom women and children. Around 330 have now died as a result of starvation and this number is set to grow. Peace looks a long way off and from the Israeli perspective, with American and Trump’s unqualified support, they are able to continue without let or hindrance. American support has even extended to banning members of the PLO from attending the UN.

The president of the PLO, Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials have had their visas revoked. The reason is because the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed them for undermining peace efforts and for ‘seeking the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state’. We seem to have entered a looking glass world as far as the Americans are concerned. The Palestinians are far from being as white as snow but they are far, far weaker than Israel who have all the weapons and materiel needed for the campaign of destruction in Gaza.

On the subject of weapons, the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition to be held in London starting shortly will not feature a stand by the Israeli government. Their arms firms will still be there however. The UK government has decided not to allow a delegation to attend. “The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong,” a UK government spokesperson said. “As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025.“

The BBC coyly refers to the exhibition using the word ‘defence’ and there will no doubt be defence firms there. But it is much more about our arms industry, heavily promoted and subsidised by our government, and which sells arms to many of the world’s troubled countries thus aiding in the carnage. The government claims it has ‘robust controls’ but with the big rise in open licences, this is a dubious claim. The fact that they were happy to allow Israel to attend until yesterday, only days before opening, speaks volumes. We should never forget the victims in these conflicts are women, children and the vulnerable. British firms profit, millions suffer. The extent of UK support for Israel is hard to quantify. RAF flights over Gaza continue the purpose of which is unclear.

There is still no sign of the local MP Mr John Glen and he did not mention the vigils in his weekly Salisbury Journal column which focused on his work getting to know people in his constituency. He is a member of the Friends of Israel lobby group in the Commons.

A video of the vigil, attended by around 40, is available here courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

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August 30, 2025 1

Gesture politics and Palestine

Local MP takes aim at ‘gesture politics’ concerning Palestine and Gaza

August 2025

In a previous post we analysed the Commons statements by our three local MPs, Mr John Glen, Mr Danny Kruger and Sir Desmond Swayne. We concluded that the latter was the only one who spoke up about the war in Gaza. Mr Glen is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel so any comments or speeches critical of Israel were unlikely. Mr Kruger appeared to have accepted the claims from Israel that Hamas fighters were embedded in the various buildings they are bombing.

In a piece in this week’s Salisbury Journal, Sir Desmond Swayne (Conservative, New Forest West) writes about Palestine under a piece entitled Britain’s gesture politics are a disgrace (28 August). He refers to the government’s intention, along with France, to recognise a Palestine state. He acknowledged this was ‘gesture’ politics but accepts that sometimes such gestures are called for.

‘For years the objective of [British government policy] has been the implementation of a Palestine state base on the occupied West Bank. Throughout this time however, Israel’s actions have been designed to thwart any such prospect’ he writes. He mentions the growing policy of apartheid in the country.

The recent announcement by the Israeli government to build a further illegal settlement which will cut the West Bank in two thus making the prospect of a functioning Palestine state almost impossible. ‘The intention is clear’ he notes quoting Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister, who said “they’ll keep talking about a Palestinian dream, and we’ll keep on building a Jewish reality … a reality that buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there’s nothing to recognise.”

David Lammy ‘at a complete loss’

How are we to respond? he asks to the man-made famine in Gaza, as well as the continuing devastation of civilian life. Every time ministers come to the Commons to face the anger of what is being done in Palestine they reiterate that they are ‘very cross about it’. Ministers point to the modest actions they have taken but when MPs point out that these actions have had no impact, the Secretary of State, David Lammy refers to ‘further actions’ that they will consider. Sir Desmond reports that when he asked the SoS ‘what further actions?’ he was directed to the Oxford English Dictionary to look up the meanings of the two words. Very drole.

Sir Desmond concludes that David Lammy is no doubt appalled by what is happening but is ‘at a complete loss’. We are in thrall to the Trump administration and we know that they will not allow any effective sanctions against Israel. It is refreshing to hear a politician spell out the plain fact that Britain is largely powerless. To quote Sir Desmond “it is time to call a spade a bloody shovel”.

“So we stand and watch as Gaza burns and the West Bank is swallowed. We will be judged accordingly”. (Sir Desmond Swayne, Salisbury Journal).

Report on arms sales to Israel.

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August 28, 2025 0

‘What did you do in the war Daddy*?’

Analysis of the voting record of the three Members of Parliament in the Salisbury area

August 2025

Salisbury has three MPs whose constituents live in the Salisbury area and it is timely to ask how they have performed in Parliament concerning the conflict in Gaza. We compare this with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia which is broadly taking place at the same time.

Although there is no job description for an MP, a key role is to represent their constituents in parliament and to the government of the day. Their constituents will have a plurality of views so straightforward representation is almost certainly impossible. A further problem is to ask who are they representing? This refers to the many lobby groups and organisations who spend millions on their activities trying to persuade MPs to their views and ideas. A key one relevant to this post is the role of the Conservative Friends of Israel thought to be the largest lobby group in parliament and with around a third of a million pounds, very well funded. The MP for Salisbury, appears to be a member of this group.

Methodology

We looked at the website They Work for You and used the following search terms [Gaza] [Israel] [Palestine] and for comparison [Ukraine]. All were accessed on 25 August 2025. We also did a search using Startpage (a search engine) using the same terms. We also referred to the website MP War Crimes. This site has analysed a wide range of sources and has concluded that all three MPs are ‘anti-Palestine’.

Results

John Glen (Salisbury).

Only three interventions none of them concerned about the violence. One asking about the refusal of Israeli authorities to allow MPs to enter the area. A question with a focus on Christians in the area and access to Christian holy sites such as the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem. Recently, he complained about an alleged statement by a Irish Republican at Glastonbury saying ‘the only good Tory is a dead Tory’ and ‘Up Hamas!’ and ‘Up Hezbollah!’.

On Ukraine by contrast he made over 30 interventions going back to June 2018.

Danny Kruger (East Wiltshire which comes down to the boundary of the City)

One. On the 29 October 2024 he asked a lengthy question making a collection of doubtful statements concerning Unwra and Hamas. This included the allegation that Hamas was ‘hiding their soldiers in hospitals’ and that they were ‘deeply integrated into Unwra’. Israel has never provided evidence of the former and on the latter, UN investigation showed that 7 operatives out of its thousands of staff might have been involved in the October massacre. This is the only one we could find and the intervention showed strong evidence of Kruger accepting Israeli claims without caveats.

On Ukraine he has made nine interventions.

Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) south of the City

The only one who seems to have asked any questions and ten which we could find with a strong emphasis on West Bank violence. Like Mr Glen, there is a focus on Anglicans some of whom were taken by IDF soldiers from an Anglican hospital and whose whereabouts are unknown. He made a number of interventions about the West Bank prior to October 7th and it seems to be a continuing interest of his on this subject. Only a small number about Gaza however.

On Ukraine, he made a similar number of interventions – ten – going back to 29 June 2016.

Conclusions

The only local MP who exhibits some kind of balance is Sir Desmond Swayne who has asked a series of questions and made speeches on a range of issues both about Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine. The same cannot be said for either John Glen or Danny Kruger. Indeed, historians in years to come, going through Hansard reading their speeches and questions, would wonder if Gaza or violence on the West Bank had ever occurred. Like reading a Jane Austen novel where you are unaware Britain was at war. Both seem to have a focus on the plight of Christians which is a proper concern and one that is often forgotten in Western media. But wider concerns about other faiths does not seem to be on their radar. As we have reported elsewhere on this site, people in and around Salisbury have now mounted 90 vigils in Salisbury, not one of which Mr Glen has ever attended or referred to in his weekly column in the local paper. He has been voluble on Ukraine but almost silent on Gaza.

We conclude that neither MP is representing, on this evidence, the views of a large number of their Constituents. It is possible that Mr Glen’s membership of Conservative Friends of Israel maybe a contributing factor. None are in government at present. It is important from a human rights perspective because there is mounting evidence of genocide and the use of starvation is a war crime. The known death toll is 62,000.

*Title of a 1966 film comedy

Numbers swell at vigil

Higher numbers still at 90th vigil in Salisbury

August 2025

Around 55 attended this week’s vigil exceeding last weeks total. More stood and took notice and many photos were taken by passers by. The ‘Honk for Gaza’ sign attracted 32 honks. Several new faces attended which is encouraging. An excellent video of the vigil is available here courtesy of Peter Gloyns. A feature of the vigils is the range of posters and signs that people bring.

Israel is now preparing to launch an offensive to capture Gaza City. Bombing has started already causing many casualties: the total known is now 62,000. Many thousands more lie under the rubble unaccounted for. Over a 1,000 have been shot by IDF soldiers and US mercenaries at the limited food distribution sites fun by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation GHF. What is upsetting many are the scenes of starving children, especially infants below the age of 5, for whom proper food is vital. Interviews with Israeli officials are met with denial. They claim there is no famine and that there is plenty of food available. According to Haaretz, the majority of Israelis are not aware of the famine in Gaza.

The UN declared a famine in part of Gaza this week: it is unable to do so for other areas as it cannot get sufficient data. António Guterres. the UN Secretary General said it was a ‘man made disaster, a moral indictment – and a failure of humanity itself’. Image: UN

Images: Salisbury Amnesty

Walking Madonna is in the Cathedral Close in Salisbury.

Image: Peter Gloyns

August 23, 2025 1

Gaza: it gets worse and worse

Very well attended vigil with new faces

August 2025

Having written about our vigils in many of our posts, it is becoming hard to find fresh words for the continuing horror of what is happening in Gaza. Israel’s actions have gone way beyond what is to be expected from a nation that likes to think of itself as a beacon of civilisation in a turbulent region. Their actions have been well documented and the nightly vision on our screens of death, destruction and now starvation is becoming unbearable. The flagrant murder of journalists is added to the list of crimes. Israel refuses to allow western journalists in for obvious reasons of course: you do not want foreign eyes and lenses on the killing and maiming of children and the elderly.

“No such thing as Palestinians because there’s no such thing as the Palestinian people” Bezalel Smotrich, Paris 2021

And it shows no sign of ending. The IDF has been ordered to extend the war and to conquer Gaza City for which plans are being prepared. One can only imagine the death toll. 61,000 will seem a distant memory once it gets underway.

Destruction of medical facilities

A key aspect of the attacks has been to destroy the medical facilities. Medical staff are having to perform serious operations without medical supplies because of the blockade. A consultant surgeon who has returned from Gaza in the Nasser hospital is quoted in this fortnight’s Private Eye (No: 1655):

‘What I have witnessed appear to me to be multiple war crimes, including the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system. Not only have hospitals been bombed, but soldiers from the IDF have gone into hospitals, killed healthcare personnel and and destroyed the infrastructure. Each individual dialysis machine has been destroyed, along with laboratories, scanners, water tanks, gas supplies and sewage systems rendering the hospitals entirely disabled. More than 1,500 healthcare workers have been killed, and more than 500 abducted and detained illegally in Israeli prisons with daily torture and many dying under torture – many of them friends of mine.’ He goes on to describe the nature of injuries and how they cluster in different parts of the bodies of victims on different days. The tired story of hospitals being command centres is not supported by any evidence. […]

What is noticeable in his and other’s testimony is the seizing of medical staff who are detained, tortured and not allowed legal representation. They have not been charged or brought before a court. Their whereabouts are unknown. Considerable notice is given to the Israel hostages (rightly so) almost nothing is ever said about the Palestinian hostages because that effectively is what they are. It is just one part of the misinformation put out by the Israelis and seemingly swallowed whole by the western media.

Vigil number 89

The 89th vigil took place in Salisbury as usual on Saturday 16th August, and we had over 50 attend. What was encouraging was the presence of new people some of whom had brought their own signs. The vigils show no sign of abating and with each day of terrible news and appalling footage smuggled out of Gaza sometimes by journalists who risk death by the IDF. No sign still of the local MP Mr John Glen nor any mention of his constituents taking part in these vigils in his weekly column in the Salisbury Journal. Mr Glen is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel organisation.

Elsewhere in Private Eye is news of Israeli exports of fruit and vegetables to the UK which have increased from £29.1m in the last 3 months of last year to £51.3m in the first 3 months of 2025. So while people in Gaza starve, we can enjoy Israeli produce on our shelves.

Pictures courtesy Peter Gloyns

August 17, 2025 0

The vigils go on

88th vigil well attended. Fears of police action unfounded

August 2025

The vigils still continue in Salisbury with unflagging attendance despite the passage of time. It must be a first that a protest of this nature has carried on for such a time despite an almost complete absence of coverage by the local paper, the Salisbury Journal. It is a demonstration that many people feel outraged by the behaviour of the IDF and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The number of those dying this way is now over a hundred and the death toll now stands at 61,000 with many thousands more buried in the rubble that is now Gaza.

Many nations – including the UK belatedly – are beginning to withdraw their support from Israel. Germany announced last week that no more arms will be sent. German commentators have called this action ‘monumental’ and one the government would have preferred not to have taken. Germany has spent decades trying to make amends for the terrible events committed by the Nazis in the Second World War. Like many other countries around the world, the disproportionate killing of civilians in Gaza and the increasing death toll from starvation is having a profound effect on public opinion.

The Knesset last week voted to take military control of the whole of Gaza in an operation due to commence in the Autumn. It is interesting looking at the values the IDF profess to have including: The IDF and our soldiers are obligated to protect human dignity. Every individual is of inherent value, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender or status. IDF soldiers appear to have shot 1,373 Palestinians seeking food since the 27 May. Human dignity?

There was a rare weekend meeting of the UN Security Council on 10 August to discuss Israel’s plans to occupy the whole of Gaza seen widely as a backwards step likely to lead inevitable to more death and destruction.

There seems no end to it and the only people who can end it are the Americans who are determined supporters of Netanyahu.

Palestine Action

Over the weekend there were widespread protests and many arrests of those alleged to be in support of Palestine Action, now deemed a ‘terrorist’ organisation by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Over 500 were arrested. Cooper has defended her action saying people do not know the full truth about the organisation.

The human rights charity Amnesty International’s chief executive Sacha Deshmukh suggested the response to the protest was disproportionate.

He said: “We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified.”

RAF flights

The depth of feeling about the government and its continued support for Israel is profound. People are deeply upset at seeing an entire population subjected to the brutal treatment by an extremely powerful army such as the IDF knowing that the UK is supporting them behind the scenes. The RAF continue to overfly Gaza with hundreds of sorties. Over 500 have taken place up to March this year with 215 since Keir Starmer became prime minister. The purpose of these flights is shrouded in mystery and the claim that they are to ‘help locate hostages’ is especially weak: 500+ flights and not to find one? Bit of a waste of money surely? There is no parliamentary oversight of these flights the purpose of which are obscure and troubling.

The RAF enjoys a fine reputation in the UK. Here in Salisbury – where Spitfires were manufactured in various places around the City and the airfield where they left for service is near where this is being typed – especially so. They valiantly defended the nation at the start of the war and ‘the Few’ are the stuff of legend. It is a shame therefore to see them being deployed in what appears to be shady activities in defence of the IDF.

Vigil No 88 – pictures courtesy of Peter Gloyns

August 11, 2025 0

Strong attendance at latest vigil

UK may join France and Canada and recognise Palestine

August 2025

About 45 attended today’s 87th vigil (2 August) and with a good level of recognition by passers by. Gaza fills the news still and the US Envoy Steve Witkoff went to Gaza this week in the presence of Israeli officials only. Here is a video of the last minute of the vigil where we bang pans as a recognition of the starvation deliberately being carried out in the territory*.

The MP for Salisbury, Mr John Glen has never attended nor referred to these vigils in his weekly column in the Salisbury Journal. He is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel a powerful Commons lobbying group. This web site may also be of interest. This is a list of Labour’s Friends of Israel group.

Things are slowly beginning to change in the region with Israel becoming more isolated. The UK may recognise Palestine as a state in September. The daily footage of emaciated children has it seems, had a powerful effect on public opinion and protestations by Israeli spokes people that Hamas is stealing the aid; there is plenty of aid but the UN will not distribute it, and the denial that the IDF have shot about 1,300 who have been attempting to get supplies is believed by fewer and fewer people. As we have noted before, the refusal to allow independent journalists into the area does raise the question ‘what are they trying to hide?’

Around 60,000 have now died and many more lie undiscovered in the rubble. Starvation and famine is now affecting tens of thousands of people.

*Video courtesy of Peter Gloyns. We should explain that the three individuals on the left of the banner sitting on the bench were not part of the vigil and were not counted as attendees.

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August 2, 2025 0

Gaza just gets worse and worse

Gaza situation worsens with no real end in sight. Labour party prevaricates over Palestine

July 2025

UPDATED 28 JULY

It seems unbelievable that in the 21st century, we should be witnessing the ever deteriorating situation in Gaza. Currently, famine is adding to the misery of destruction. Around 59,000 have died by some estimates but the ultimate death toll will be much higher as thousands lie undiscovered in the ruins. Images on our screens each evening of starving people, infants with emaciated arms and legs and scenes of mayhem at the food points now being managed by Israeli and American agencies are beginning to strike home. Over 1,000 have been killed at these food stations and images of people clamouring for a ladle of some kind of lentil stew are shocking.

Our own government continues to vacillate over whether to recognise Palestine. One is inclined to say to them, ‘leave it much longer and there won’t be much left to recognise’. Israel continues to blame Hamas for what is happening and it cannot be denied they have a role in it. They also blame the UN for the failure to distribute the aid which is there much of which is rotting. No independent journalists are allowed into the area so verification is hard to achieve. In view of the history of the UN, both here and elsewhere in the world, in distributing aid in difficult situations, it stretches the imagination that they are wilfully withholding supplies. That the IDF is making life as difficult as possible and imposing multiple restrictions seems more likely to be true.

It also fits with the narrative of several of the Israeli cabinet who have made extreme comments about the future of Palestinians. The violent settler activity in the West Bank, where journalists can get access sometimes also suggests, a deliberate policy. We see settlers attacking Palestinian villages and homes with the army looking on.

Foreign Secretary Lammy a member

We discovered this week, courtesy of Declassified UK, that around 130 Conservative MPs, including the MP for Salisbury John Glen, are members of ‘Conservative Friends of Israel‘ along with 40 Labour members. Together they have received over a third of a million pounds of funding and with other front groups the total is over £0.5m. It is the largest lobbying group in the Commons. Included in the list are several members of the Cabinet including David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary who is also alleged to have received over £30,000 from Jewish interests. Sir Keir Starmer has received £50,000 from Trevor Chinn described as a ‘Jewish Grandee’ who promotes Israeli causes in the UK. He was awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour for services to the state of Israel.

So while arrests take place of people alleged to be supporting Palestine Action, a significant number of MPs enjoy funding from Israeli lobbying organisations. Another £0.3m million is given to MPs by Individuals supportive of Israel. Hmm.

Vigil

Number 86 took place yesterday (27th) and around 50 attended, the largest for some while. We were delighted to welcome some from Southampton. No sign of the local MP nor any mention of the vigils in his weekly column in the local paper.

Some of our 50 or so supporter on the traffic island.

This YouTube by a Jewish man talking about dehumanising people is a powerful watch.

July 27, 2025 0

Vigil #85

Vigil number 85 well attended

July 2025

Good turnout again for the weekly vigil with nearly 40 coming. Two of our supporters stood on the nearby traffic island and attracted a significant number of car ‘honks’ – we’ll do that again. The number of ‘recognitions’ that is people who appear to take note of the vigil, was over a 100 approximately.

Following the ban of Palestine Action by the government – a decision widely condemned and not just for the manner in which it was done – someone protesting about Palestine but not PA, was threatened with arrest by armed Kent Police. This seemed to be the very definition of heavy handed and a warning that once legislation introduced to curb and interdict violent terrorists bent on killing people, is used to threaten people engaged in peaceful protests, we should be very concerned. Authoritarianism creeps up on you slowly. A 100 people were arrested on Saturday 19th around the nation.

Shocking revelation about the Charity Commission

A shocking revelation came today that two UK based charities have sent millions of pounds to Israeli settlements with the blessing of the Charity Commission. A charity called UK Toremet has sent £5.7m to the West bank. They are the conduit for another charity the Kasner Charitable Trust founded to assist Zionist causes. The school in question being funded is based near a Palestinian settlement Khirbet Susiya, which was cleared out in 1996 by the IDF. One would have expected the Commission to know that many of the settlements are illegal under international law and that the level of violence against people living there is increasing. See Amnesty report (case study 3).

Baroness Warsi has said that sending money to this illegal settlement in occupied land was ‘appalling’. The Charity Commission says it can do nothing. The charity is legal and operating as it does is not a criminal offence it claims. Anyone who has had dealings with the Charity Commission in the UK knows that they exert considerable and exacting control on what charities do, whom they help, how the money is spent and a host of conditions concerning governance and safeguarding. To give a green light to millions going via a Zionist charity to a settlement violently acquired and existing on illegally acquired land seems to stretching their remit to breaking point.

Al Jazeera reports a further 116 killed today (19 July) seeking food. The death toll is around 58,000.

Photo, Peter Gloyns

July 20, 2025 4

Tag: Salisbury

Rain does not deter vigil

91st vigil attracts strong attendance despite rain