“We continue to call for a permanent ceasefire”

The Socialist Health Association statement regarding the ceasefire in Gaza and the Palestine demonstration in London on 18th January 2025.

The Socialist Health Association welcomes the pause in hostilities seen today, Sunday 19th January, but we continue to call for a permanent ceasefire, just peace and unfettered and immediate access to humanitarian aid and essential supplies.

The Socialist Health Association had its banner and a delegation at Saturday’s peaceful demonstration in London which called for an end Israel’s genocide in Palestine and to stop arming Israel. We have participated in all of these protests for more than a year.

The SHA is unequivocally opposed to the collective punishment, starvation and slaughter of a population and targeting of health facilities and health workers. We oppose the taking of hostages by all parties. We note reports that in addition to the hostages seized on 7th October there are currently more than 450 health workers and over 10,000 civilians in Israeli prisons . (There are currently 10,400 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, although that figure does not include people arrested in Gaza during the last 15 months of conflict, according to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.)

Many of us also share the concern of demonstrators about the prejudicial coverage of this conflict by the BBC which delegitimises reports of Gaza deaths and injuries. It is entirely understandable that marchers wish to highlight this by protesting outside the corporation’s headquarters.

It’s clear on the day the police were instructed to apply intimidatory tactics. When asked they were frequently unable to explain their rationale. Many simply shrugged their shoulders. The policing of this demonstration was unacceptable and must be reviewed.

Those arrested must be released forthwith! These spurious public order charges must be dropped.

The SHA as an affiliate of the Labour Party finds it incomprehensible that our government and our London mayor permit this attack on civil liberties and will communicate this directly.

• The SHA model motion on Stop the War on Gaza is available here.
• A statement by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other organisations about yesterday’s London demonstration is here.
• John McDonnell MP has tweeted about what happened on the demonstration here.
• The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has released footage of yesterday’s demonstration here.