A VIGIL took place in the town centre on Sunday 15th October which saw local people gather to express their deep concern at the violence and loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives.
The vigil was attended by about 50 local people including members of Frome Friends of Palestine, Amnesty International and people of all faiths and backgrounds.
A spokesperson for the organisers said, “We held a vigil to oppose the intensified blockade of Gaza, the cutting-off of food, water, electricity and fuel and the refusal to allow international aid into the strip. Speakers reflected that this latest spike in violence is not a new conflict. It can only be understood in the context of Israel’s decades long occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people: the brutal 16-year siege of Gaza, and the increasing violence by Israeli settlers and soldiers against Palestinian villages, towns, cities and refugee camps in the West Bank, with the highest death toll for many years including dozens of children.
“The utter failure of the international community to uphold the human rights of Palestinians over many decades, and to bring about a just solution for Palestinians as well as Israelis, has been a major factor leading to current events.
“Professor Jason Hart, many of whose family perished in the Holocaust, reminded us of the words of Gerald Kaufman MP in a 2009 speech to the House of Commons. A large number of Kaufman’s family were also murdered in the Holocaust, and he says, ‘My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza’. Jason also lamented the disregard for the lives of children and the failure of the international community to intervene on their behalf.
“Those attending the vigil unanimously expressed their dismay at the utterly shameful and irresponsible response of the international community to the current crisis; effectively giving the Israeli government free rein to commit genocide against 2.2 million people in Gaza; people whom Israel has imprisoned and besieged for the last 16 years, and half of whom are children. The responses of the British Government and the leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer were seen as particularly disappointing, especially in view of Britain’s historic responsibility for the suffering of the Palestinians.
“The British Government and the wider international community must act immediately to uphold international law and bring about a cease-fire. But a simple return to the status quo will not be enough. Israel must end its occupation if a return to the cycle of violence is to be avoided. At the time of writing, Britain has just voted against a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire. This irresponsible action will undoubtedly cost the lives of many more children in Gaza.”
