Yesterday
Left Foot Forward
“Each was precious. Each was innocent. Many died horrific, painful deaths. There were so many of them. They must not be forgotten.”
Left Foot Forward
“Each was precious. Each was innocent. Many died horrific, painful deaths. There were so many of them. They must not be forgotten.”
On July 16, activists gathered outside the Welsh government building to read aloud the names of 20,000 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The remembrance act, titled “Know Their Names: Action Not Words,” was a solemn tribute to young lives cut short by the violence.
The event was organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Cymru and Parents and Teachers for Palestine, who aim to draw public and political attention to the human cost of the war in Gaza.
Campaigners are urging the Welsh Government and members of the Senedd to support an immediate arms embargo on Israel, to press for targeted sanctions, and to take steps to uphold international law.
Clive Haswell, from PSC Cymru, said: “If the death of over 20,000 children is not enough for our First Minister and MSs to demand decisive action and end our complicity, I’m truly lost for words.
“UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] staff recently visited the Senedd and pleaded with our elected leaders to speak out and use their influence.
“Their continued silence and inaction kills.”
Ahead of the event, Frankie Finn of Parents and Teachers for Palestine said:
“On 16 July, we’ll stand outside our national parliament to honour these children – by saying their names.
“Each was precious. Each was innocent. Many died horrific, painful deaths. There were so many of them. They must not be forgotten.”
The call for political action appears to reflect growing public concern in the UK. A recent Opinium poll, commissioned by PSC, found that 57% of the British public support ending arms sales to Israel, compared with just 13% opposed. Among Labour voters in the 2024 general election, that support rose to 71%.
The same poll showed majority support for several related measures, including 53% who said they would back government sanctions against Israel’s finance minister, who has called for Gaza to be “cleansed” and the destruction of “what’s left”.
Additionally, a majority of 54% are in favour of Israel being expelled from the United Nations, while just 16% oppose the expulsion.
On boycotting Israeli goods, twice as many respondents supported supermarkets removing such products as those who opposed the idea
Last September, the UK government suspended around 30 arms export licences after it assessed that the items might be used to facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law.
However, 90% of the arms export licenses to Israel have still not been suspended.
Image credit: Gaza Action in Wales
Astonishing clip shows protester being threatened with arrest for Palestine flag and placard
17 July, 2025
Left Foot Forward
A video clip has shown an astonishing interaction between a protester and two police officers in Kent. In the clip, the protester – Laura Murton – was threatened with arrest while they held a Palestine flag and displayed a placard reading ‘Israel is committing genocide’.
In the clip, Murton is seen being approached by two police officers who asked them what their intention was. The police went on to ask whether Murton supported any proscribed group. She confirmed that she did not, going on to say “I support a free Palestine and the end of genocide.”
Following this, one of the officers asked for her details saying that she may be ‘committing an offence’ and that he needed to make sure that she was ‘legit’.
Murton then asked the officer what offence she may be committing, and was told that it related to support for proscribed groups. She responded to this by saying she didn’t “have anything on me which says that”. The officer then said “the way you are behaving at the moment” would “give me suspicion to believe you could be”.
A second officer can then be seen saying “My colleague’s explained that the support of this – mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel genocide, all of that – all would come under proscribed groups which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government which we have suspicions to suggest that you’re supporting based on your actions here in a city with the flags and the posters you’ve got.”
Later in the clip, the same officer went on to say “I’ll tell you the offences that we’ve been asked to deal with things like this. So you’ve got to belong or profess to a proscribed organisation – so Palestine Action”. After Murton said “which I have not”. The officer then said “and you haven’t”, but continued: “Invite support for a proscribed organisation – you haven’t. Express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation. Now, that you have done.”
Murton responded to this by saying “That’s ridiculous, you’re going to end up arresting half the country.” The officer then said “I didn’t make the legislation. That is the legislation.” He later added that if Murton continued their protest in a different location “you’ll probably find yourself arrestable for that offence”.
The incident follows the controversial decision by the government to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
Speaking to the Guardian, Murton said: “I don’t see how anything I was wearing, how anything I was displaying, anything I was saying, could be deemed as supportive of the proscribed group.”
“It’s terrifying, I was standing there thinking, this is the most authority, authoritarian, dystopian experience I’ve had in this country, being told that I’m committing terrorist offences by two guys with firearms.”
“I ended up giving my details, and I really resent the fact I had to do that because I don’t think that was lawful at all.”
According to the Guardian, a Kent police spokesperson said: “Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action.”
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
Image credit: Scotgunn – Creative Commons
Left Foot Forward
A video clip has shown an astonishing interaction between a protester and two police officers in Kent. In the clip, the protester – Laura Murton – was threatened with arrest while they held a Palestine flag and displayed a placard reading ‘Israel is committing genocide’.
In the clip, Murton is seen being approached by two police officers who asked them what their intention was. The police went on to ask whether Murton supported any proscribed group. She confirmed that she did not, going on to say “I support a free Palestine and the end of genocide.”
Following this, one of the officers asked for her details saying that she may be ‘committing an offence’ and that he needed to make sure that she was ‘legit’.
Murton then asked the officer what offence she may be committing, and was told that it related to support for proscribed groups. She responded to this by saying she didn’t “have anything on me which says that”. The officer then said “the way you are behaving at the moment” would “give me suspicion to believe you could be”.
A second officer can then be seen saying “My colleague’s explained that the support of this – mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel genocide, all of that – all would come under proscribed groups which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government which we have suspicions to suggest that you’re supporting based on your actions here in a city with the flags and the posters you’ve got.”
Later in the clip, the same officer went on to say “I’ll tell you the offences that we’ve been asked to deal with things like this. So you’ve got to belong or profess to a proscribed organisation – so Palestine Action”. After Murton said “which I have not”. The officer then said “and you haven’t”, but continued: “Invite support for a proscribed organisation – you haven’t. Express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation. Now, that you have done.”
Murton responded to this by saying “That’s ridiculous, you’re going to end up arresting half the country.” The officer then said “I didn’t make the legislation. That is the legislation.” He later added that if Murton continued their protest in a different location “you’ll probably find yourself arrestable for that offence”.
The incident follows the controversial decision by the government to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
Speaking to the Guardian, Murton said: “I don’t see how anything I was wearing, how anything I was displaying, anything I was saying, could be deemed as supportive of the proscribed group.”
“It’s terrifying, I was standing there thinking, this is the most authority, authoritarian, dystopian experience I’ve had in this country, being told that I’m committing terrorist offences by two guys with firearms.”
“I ended up giving my details, and I really resent the fact I had to do that because I don’t think that was lawful at all.”
According to the Guardian, a Kent police spokesperson said: “Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action.”
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
Image credit: Scotgunn – Creative Commons
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