Tag: vigil

Gaza Death Toll Passes 40,000: Global Concerns and Peace Talks Update


August 2024

Still they continue and just under 40 attended the Vigil in Salisbury on Saturday 17th August. A grim milestone was reached during the week when the Health Ministry announced the death toll in Gaza has passed 40,000 and shows no sign of ending. The Israeli authorities dispute these figures but the evidence suggests they are an underestimate since many thousands are buried and unaccounted for.

Peace talks are taking place in Doha and are being spoken about optimistically by the Americans at least although Hamas are not in attendance. Today’s reports are less optimistic.

There are signs of patience running out in Western capitals and the new Foreign Secretary David Lammy is in Israel with his French counterpart to try and promote some kind of peace initiative. In a joint article in the Observer (August 18th) it is clear both governments are worried by a regional escalation.

It is not clear whether the UK will cease or reduce arms sales to the country but CAAT reported recently (6 August) that there has been no change in the government’s position. Reports that they were rethinking appear to have been premature. The major supplier is the US which is done on a government to government basis.

There has also been a perceptible change in reporting by the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV with more robust interviews and pointed questioning. On Channel 4 for example, in an interview concerning the mounting settler violence in the West Bank where a large group of them were filmed rampaging through a Palestinian village, Matt Frei used the ‘apartheid’ word at least twice. On Radio 4 where and Israeli official was casting doubt over the death statistics in Gaza, the interviewer noted that independent journalists were not allowed in to the territory: clearly the inference was that if you will not permit independent verification, it is hard for you to complain about the statistics.

What is becoming increasingly apparent is the sympathy and shock felt around the world at the horrific attack on October 7th and the continuing plight of the 100 or so hostages held captive in Gaza is diminishing. Claims that it is Hamas terrorists being targeted and killed are also being questioned in the light of vast numbers of dead women and children.

Pic: Salisbury Amnesty

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Vigils continue


August 2024

The 36th Vigil took place again this Saturday, 10 August 2024 with just over 30 in attendance. When these Vigils started we did not imagine they would still be going and would attract continued support. This time we were joined by some passers by.

In that connection it is perhaps interesting to comment on the reaction of people walking past. Around 90 or so people took notice of what we were doing and registered (probably) that we were in support of peace in the region and a few took photos. This was around a quarter of those passing by. Many simply did not notice, hurrying home after work or rushing to catch a bus. Some quickly looked away for reasons we cannot know.

The conflict continues and the death toll stands at over 39,000. There seems to be no credible attempts at present to secure a ceasefire.

The next is on Saturday 17th at 5pm as usual.

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The Vigils continue


August 2024

Here we are in August and we are still holding our weekly vigil in Salisbury market. Over 30 attended during the half hour session and it was all good natured this time. There seems no end to the conflict in Gaza: faint peace hopes were extinguished when the senior Hamas chief, Ismael Haniyeh was killed in Tehran. Some reports refer to a missile strike but later it appeared to have been a bomb placed in the house where he stays in the city, activated from afar. Israel has not claimed responsibility but it is assumed to be by them.

In any event, it has inflamed tensions and together with activity in Lebanon, any prospect of peace looks further away than ever. It is likely after Netanyahu’s rapturous reception in the American Congress last week, he is emboldened to take this kind of action. Retaliation is likely from Iran and so it goes on. Patrick Cockburn writing in the i newspaper (3 August) says that “Israel is getting locked into wars it will not lose – but cannot win”.

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Vigil continues …


Salisbury Vigil still continues and is well supported

July 2024

Ten months since the terrible attack by Hamas and the start of the assault on Gaza and people still turn out on a Saturday to demonstrate their wish for peace. Just under 40 attended today (27 July). This week saw the rapturous reception of Benjamin Netanyahu by most of the Congress and Senate and heard his speech which contained many untruths. Peace in Gaza looks as far off as ever and today were reports of more attacks with 50 dead and around 200 injured. As long as the US supports Israel it does not seem likely that a peace deal is going to happen.

The politics changed in the US this week with President Biden agreeing to stand aside from the election and Kamala Harris looking set to be the presidential candidate. She has a more robust attitude to the conflict so it will be interesting to see how that plays out.

The UK position seems to be hardening and the new government does not appear to be stuck on following the US lead and is even thinking of reviewing the sale of arms to Israel.

We will be back in the market square in Salisbury at 5 pm as usual for half and hour.

Butter market, Salisbury

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Vigil


Encouraging vigil this Saturday with several joining us

July 2024

We had to move to the steps of the Library today because of the bad weather. We swelled to around 40 as several people joined us which was encouraging. We had no aggression or individuals shouting this week but by contrast, a number of people giving us the thumbs up and a lot taking photos.

This week saw the International Criminal Court deciding that Israel’s settlement policies and exploitation of resources in the occupied territories were in breach of international law. They say Israel should pay reparations. Israel does not recognise the ICC. There are now over 100 settlements and around 200,000 Israelis living in them.

There are now thought to be 38,700 dead although as we have noted in a previous post, the total dead is thought to be around 186,000 according to the Lancet.

Other news includes the decision by the new Labour government to resume aid to UNWRA to the tune of £32m. UNWRA are the only agency able to offer aid at scale and many countries stopped funding their operations following accusations that some of their staff were active in the October 7th atrocity. It is understood however that the Israeli authorities have not been able to substantiate their claims or provide evidence.

There will be another Vigil next Saturday, 27th at 5pm

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Vigil 32


July 2024

Vigil continues but with a little more aggression shown

We are still carrying on with the Vigil each Saturday and the numbers were back up over 30. This time we had a little aggression towards us with one man claiming that Palestinians were terrorists. A second man kept up a prolonged and loudly delivered series of arguments which included the question why do/did we not hold similar vigils for other conflicts such as Iraq? He disputed the Lancet figures of 186,000 dead although it was not clear that he had read the report (it was found for him).

We shall be back next Saturday at 5pm as usual for half an hour.

Pic: Salisbury Amnesty

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Vigil #30


Thirtieth vigil took place still with strong attendance

July 2024

It seems remarkable that after eight months, the peace vigil in Salisbury market place is still going strong. Another perspective is why should it be necessary but with little sign of an end to the destruction there is a strong desire for it to continue. About 30 attended on Saturday 29th June and we are pleased to attach a short YouTube video produced by Peter Gloyn.

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Vigil #29


Encouraging numbers attended the Vigil

June 2024

Over 40 attended the Vigil this Saturday evening (22nd June) and encouragingly, the numbers swelled with new passers by stopping and spending time with us. This is especially encouraging since a lot of reporting is now focused on the general election and news of Gaza has dropped down the running order or has disappeared altogether. Approaching 37,000 have died in Gaza during the conflict and it shows little sign of ending.

We are pleased to include a video clip of this Vigil made by Peter Gloyn.

During the week, power in the West Bank passed from the IDF to the far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich in a move likely to cause more misery. There will be few controls on settler violence and further annexations have already started. Smotrich and his supporters are now in control of the West Bank and the violence against Palestinians is certain to increase thus further increasing tensions.

Previous post: UK selling arms to Israel

Picture: Salisbury Amnesty

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Vigil – 6 months


June 2024

Group members attended the Vigil in Salisbury Market Place yesterday and the numbers were back up to well over 30 who came. There were new faces as well as the stalwarts. It’s six months since we have been going to these and the violence in Gaza and the West Bank shows no sign of abating. Peace talks don’t look as though they are going anywhere. The US and President Biden are looking increasingly powerless as time goes by.

The Salisbury group was established 50 years ago this year
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21st Vigil video


The 21st Vigil took place on Saturday 27th April

May 2024

The conflict continues although it has largely dropped down the running order in recent weeks. The war in Gaza is causing great fury on US university campuses with close to riotous events taking place. It does not seem either productive or appropriate to perpetuate the violent behaviour in Gaza on the streets of American universities.

We attach a short video film of the last Salisbury vigil – the 21st – in which just over 30 took part, expertly put together by Peter Gloyns. The focus is on ending the violence and features images of weapons used by the Israelis which they purchase from western – mainly US but also UK companies – which cause so much damage in the territory.

As we write, President Netanyahu has said they are planning on a military attack on Rafah, currently packed with people who have fled other parts of Gaza because of the bombing. The current death toll stands at 34,000.

The Salisbury group was established 50 years ago this year

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