School children rally outside UK parliament demanding Gaza ceasefire
School children in the UK gathered outside the British Parliament, demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and urging an end to Israel's war on Gaza.
The New Arab Staff
07 February, 2024
Children write on the floor with coloured piece of chalk "Stop Bombing Children" during a Pro-Palestinian rally in Parliament Square [Getty]
Hundreds of school children gathered outside the British parliament in London on Wednesday to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as part of the National School Strike for Palestine initiative.
In a child-led press conference, striking school students delivered a powerful statement to the media and politicians urging for an immediate stop to Israel's war on Gaza.
They also spoke of their experience of witnessing a genocide through social media, voicing frustration and anger at the inaction of the British government and opposition.
The children made pleas urging for the safety of their peers in Palestine, after Israel's bombing campaign has killed over 10,000 children since 7 October.
"We are here because we have a voice, and you need to listen to us," a child, aged 8, said. "We are not too little to understand how awful it is what is happening in Gaza. We know that the killing of children is never acceptable and will never be normal."
The press conference, organised by Parents for Palestine in collaboration with the National School Strike for Palestine, urged the British government to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, end all arms supplies to Israel and resume funding for the UN humanitarian aid agency for Palestinians UNRWA.
UK arms dealers' gala disrupted by pro-Palestine protesters
World
Rosabel Crean
"Our children do not want to grow up in a country complicit in genocide. Whilst almost 12,000 children in Gaza killed by Israel will never get to grow old, our children will speak to their humanity," parent Kate Joseph of Parents for Palestine said.
"The Government and the Labour Party have not just betrayed Palestinian children, but have betrayed children all across this country who have a right to grow up in a world where human rights are protected and people of all races are treated equally."
Central London has seen regular weekly protests since Israel's war on Gaza began on 7 October, with hundreds of thousands marching to call for an end to the bloodshed, putting pressure on the UK government and Labour party, both of which have not urged Israel to stop its onslaught.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the UK would not rule out Britain eventually recognising a state of Palestine. However, he said this could only come if Hamas was no longer in control in Gaza.
School children in the UK gathered outside the British Parliament, demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and urging an end to Israel's war on Gaza.
The New Arab Staff
07 February, 2024
Children write on the floor with coloured piece of chalk "Stop Bombing Children" during a Pro-Palestinian rally in Parliament Square [Getty]
Hundreds of school children gathered outside the British parliament in London on Wednesday to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as part of the National School Strike for Palestine initiative.
In a child-led press conference, striking school students delivered a powerful statement to the media and politicians urging for an immediate stop to Israel's war on Gaza.
They also spoke of their experience of witnessing a genocide through social media, voicing frustration and anger at the inaction of the British government and opposition.
The children made pleas urging for the safety of their peers in Palestine, after Israel's bombing campaign has killed over 10,000 children since 7 October.
"We are here because we have a voice, and you need to listen to us," a child, aged 8, said. "We are not too little to understand how awful it is what is happening in Gaza. We know that the killing of children is never acceptable and will never be normal."
The press conference, organised by Parents for Palestine in collaboration with the National School Strike for Palestine, urged the British government to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, end all arms supplies to Israel and resume funding for the UN humanitarian aid agency for Palestinians UNRWA.
UK arms dealers' gala disrupted by pro-Palestine protesters
World
Rosabel Crean
"Our children do not want to grow up in a country complicit in genocide. Whilst almost 12,000 children in Gaza killed by Israel will never get to grow old, our children will speak to their humanity," parent Kate Joseph of Parents for Palestine said.
"The Government and the Labour Party have not just betrayed Palestinian children, but have betrayed children all across this country who have a right to grow up in a world where human rights are protected and people of all races are treated equally."
Central London has seen regular weekly protests since Israel's war on Gaza began on 7 October, with hundreds of thousands marching to call for an end to the bloodshed, putting pressure on the UK government and Labour party, both of which have not urged Israel to stop its onslaught.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the UK would not rule out Britain eventually recognising a state of Palestine. However, he said this could only come if Hamas was no longer in control in Gaza.
Children's school strike protest outside Emily Thornberry's office
February 7, 2024
Parents and children gathered outside Islington Town Hall this morning taking part in a global call-out to strike in support of Palestine. The youngsters wrote letters and created artwork before marching to the constituency office of Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry.
There, one young person read out a poem she’d written, and we also heard a moving poem written as part of a journal by a Gazan child.
In front of Thornberry’s office, the children laid out pairs of small shoes to symbolise the huge number (estimated to be as high as 15,000) of Palestinian children murdered so far in Israel’s bombing and occupation. They also posted their letters through the door before clearing up and leaving.
SCOTLAND
Activists take part in national School Strike for Palestine
School and university students take part in a School Strike for Palestine walkout in George Square, Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA)
By Lauren Gilmour, PA Scotland
Wed 7 Feb 2024
Activists from across Scotland have taken part in a national School Strike for Palestine, calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza.
As well as school pupils, trade unionists and educational institutions were among those to join demonstrators at George Square in Glasgow, in front of the City Chambers, in a call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Students and staff from the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde and the West of Scotland were among those to join the demonstration at 12pm on Wednesday.
School and university students take part in a School Strike for Palestine walkout in George Square, Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA)
The action was organised by the Glasgow Stop the War Coalition, which posted on its social media sites: “Every collective act, big or small, sends a message to those who are suffering in Gaza that we are with them and puts pressure on our government to call on the Israeli government to stop bombing Gaza.”
Shabbir Lakha, Stop the War Coalition officer and one of the organisers of the School Strike for Palestine, said: “Over a week since the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide and to take immediate and effective steps to ensure the provision of basic services and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, the mass killing of Palestinians – many thousands of them children – continues.
“Schools and universities have been clamping down on students for supporting the people of Gaza, including referring them to the Government’s counter-terrorism programme Prevent, which is an outrageous attack on their democratic rights and civil liberties.
“It is little wonder that young people up and down the country are determined to make their voices heard.
“We encourage children and adults from all communities to attend Wednesday’s events, and to use their voices to speak for safety, freedom and peace for all.”
School and university students take part in a sit-down protest in Queen Street Station (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Some campaigners occupied Glasgow’s Queen Street Station as part of the activity on Wednesday, carrying a banner reading: “End the siege of Gaza”, and chanting: “Israel out of the West Bank, Israel out of Gaza, Israel out of Palestine,” videos posted on social media showed.
Activists from across Scotland have taken part in a national School Strike for Palestine, calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza.
As well as school pupils, trade unionists and educational institutions were among those to join demonstrators at George Square in Glasgow, in front of the City Chambers, in a call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Students and staff from the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde and the West of Scotland were among those to join the demonstration at 12pm on Wednesday.
School and university students take part in a School Strike for Palestine walkout in George Square, Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA)
The action was organised by the Glasgow Stop the War Coalition, which posted on its social media sites: “Every collective act, big or small, sends a message to those who are suffering in Gaza that we are with them and puts pressure on our government to call on the Israeli government to stop bombing Gaza.”
Shabbir Lakha, Stop the War Coalition officer and one of the organisers of the School Strike for Palestine, said: “Over a week since the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide and to take immediate and effective steps to ensure the provision of basic services and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, the mass killing of Palestinians – many thousands of them children – continues.
“Schools and universities have been clamping down on students for supporting the people of Gaza, including referring them to the Government’s counter-terrorism programme Prevent, which is an outrageous attack on their democratic rights and civil liberties.
“It is little wonder that young people up and down the country are determined to make their voices heard.
“We encourage children and adults from all communities to attend Wednesday’s events, and to use their voices to speak for safety, freedom and peace for all.”
School and university students take part in a sit-down protest in Queen Street Station (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Some campaigners occupied Glasgow’s Queen Street Station as part of the activity on Wednesday, carrying a banner reading: “End the siege of Gaza”, and chanting: “Israel out of the West Bank, Israel out of Gaza, Israel out of Palestine,” videos posted on social media showed.
Workers and students stage mass walk out to demand permanent ceasefire in Gaza
Protesters outside the University of Manchester Photo: Neil Terry Photography
WORKERS and students walked out across the country today to demand the government back a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as the death toll climbs to over 27,000.
As part of the day of strike action, called by the Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, workers gathered for a lunchtime rally outside Parliament organised by civil servants’ union PCS. Members of NEU and the UCU also walked out across the country.
Media workers protested outside BBC headquarters over its coverage of Israel’s war crimes as the death toll for journalists tops 85.
A Media Workers for Palestine spokesperson said: “A number of the BBC’s own journalists have accused the corporation of investing greater effort in humanising Israeli victims of the war compared with Palestinians and failing to provide key historical context in its coverage.
“But their fear of reprisals meant they did so anonymously.”
They said that the protest “intends to give them, and all media workers with a conscience, a voice.”
NUJ members also walked out and staged a rally outside the Sheffield Star.
Students and lecturers joined the action and walked out of universities across the country including in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester.
Christian Hogsbjerg, a UCU member at the University of Brighton, said: “At a time when universities in Gaza are being bombed, with almost 100 Palestinian academics killed so far, alongside the wider horrors of this act of barbaric state terror by the Israeli government backed by the US and UK, the very least university workers in the UK can do is stand in solidarity with Gaza and refuse to be silent.”
Protesters outside the University of Manchester Photo: Neil Terry Photography
WORKERS and students walked out across the country today to demand the government back a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as the death toll climbs to over 27,000.
As part of the day of strike action, called by the Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, workers gathered for a lunchtime rally outside Parliament organised by civil servants’ union PCS. Members of NEU and the UCU also walked out across the country.
Media workers protested outside BBC headquarters over its coverage of Israel’s war crimes as the death toll for journalists tops 85.
A Media Workers for Palestine spokesperson said: “A number of the BBC’s own journalists have accused the corporation of investing greater effort in humanising Israeli victims of the war compared with Palestinians and failing to provide key historical context in its coverage.
“But their fear of reprisals meant they did so anonymously.”
They said that the protest “intends to give them, and all media workers with a conscience, a voice.”
NUJ members also walked out and staged a rally outside the Sheffield Star.
Students and lecturers joined the action and walked out of universities across the country including in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester.
Christian Hogsbjerg, a UCU member at the University of Brighton, said: “At a time when universities in Gaza are being bombed, with almost 100 Palestinian academics killed so far, alongside the wider horrors of this act of barbaric state terror by the Israeli government backed by the US and UK, the very least university workers in the UK can do is stand in solidarity with Gaza and refuse to be silent.”
MORNING STAR
Trade unionists mobilise for Workplace Day of Action calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
Coordinated local action and rallies took place nationwide from workers and students
Hannah Davenport
Workers and students across the UK mobilised today for a Workplace Day of Action continuing the call for an immediate ceasefire.
Trade union members and staff organised a series of protests in workplaces throughout the day in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Health workers at over 13 hospitals hosted walk outs and lunchtime protests as part of the action, coordinated by Health Workers for Palestine and Stop the War Coalition.
Unions mobilising their members included the University and College Union (UCU), National Education Union (NEU) and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). Members of the PCS union who work in and around Whitehall staged a lunchtime protest outside Parliament, while PCS Scotland members led a demonstration outside City Chambers.
UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said all actions “big or small” are important in drawing attention to the campaign for a ceasefire and “building pressure on the government”.
“We demand that our government calls for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the horrific scenes we are seeing daily in Gaza”, said Grady.
“I am proud that our union has, since the start of this horrific period, consistently demanded a ceasefire and the return of all hostages.”
Education unions have continued to draw attention to the destruction of education facilities in Gaza, where every university has now been bombed and either partially or totally destroyed.
Over 11,500 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli military so far since the Hamas attacks.
School and university students also walked out today in peaceful protest to demand an end to the bombings in Gaza. A coalition of media workers also held a rally in central London drawing attention to the killing of 119 journalists in the Gaza conflict.
Members of different unions stood in solidarity in their call for a ceasefire, with RMT staff joining GMB union staff to send support to the workers and people of Gaza, as well as Unite the union members joining GMB and UCU workers at rallies.
Mick Whelan, General Secretary of ASLEF union, will speak at a trade union solidarity webinar tonight calling on workers to unite against the arms trade with Israel.
(Image credit: Stop the War Coalition)
Hannah Davenport is news reporter at Left Foot Forward, focusing on trade unions and environmental issues
Coordinated local action and rallies took place nationwide from workers and students
Hannah Davenport
7 February, 2024
Workers and students across the UK mobilised today for a Workplace Day of Action continuing the call for an immediate ceasefire.
Trade union members and staff organised a series of protests in workplaces throughout the day in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Health workers at over 13 hospitals hosted walk outs and lunchtime protests as part of the action, coordinated by Health Workers for Palestine and Stop the War Coalition.
Unions mobilising their members included the University and College Union (UCU), National Education Union (NEU) and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). Members of the PCS union who work in and around Whitehall staged a lunchtime protest outside Parliament, while PCS Scotland members led a demonstration outside City Chambers.
UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said all actions “big or small” are important in drawing attention to the campaign for a ceasefire and “building pressure on the government”.
“We demand that our government calls for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the horrific scenes we are seeing daily in Gaza”, said Grady.
“I am proud that our union has, since the start of this horrific period, consistently demanded a ceasefire and the return of all hostages.”
Education unions have continued to draw attention to the destruction of education facilities in Gaza, where every university has now been bombed and either partially or totally destroyed.
Over 11,500 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli military so far since the Hamas attacks.
School and university students also walked out today in peaceful protest to demand an end to the bombings in Gaza. A coalition of media workers also held a rally in central London drawing attention to the killing of 119 journalists in the Gaza conflict.
Members of different unions stood in solidarity in their call for a ceasefire, with RMT staff joining GMB union staff to send support to the workers and people of Gaza, as well as Unite the union members joining GMB and UCU workers at rallies.
Mick Whelan, General Secretary of ASLEF union, will speak at a trade union solidarity webinar tonight calling on workers to unite against the arms trade with Israel.
(Image credit: Stop the War Coalition)
Hannah Davenport is news reporter at Left Foot Forward, focusing on trade unions and environmental issues
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