Palestine campaigners in Sheffield were delighted to welcome home Jonny following his return from the West Bank working with International Solidarity. This is what he said.
Jonny explained that while he was there one of his neighbours was shot by a settler. The army prevented medics getting to him in time, so his leg had to be amputated. Instead of the attacker being arrested, the victim was arrested and then also his son. All they are doing is trying to resist the settlers who want to steal their land. To the people in the West Bank, these events were not shocking, this is how life is, living with the constant threat of settlers violently invading their land.
A joint statement from 3 charities, Save the Children, Christian Aid and Medical Aid for Palestinians was read. “Kier Starmer and David Lammy, your failure to act is costing lives. The UK must do everything in its power to end the siege of Gaza and act now to prevent Israel’s atrocities in Gaza from being repeated in the West Bank. The government must end its complicity and urgently suspend all armed transfers to Israel including parts for F-35 fighter jets which are made here. Hold all perpetrators accountable and end Israel’s immunity. Take all possible steps to bring an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation, The UK must not be an ally to atrocities.”
You can see the video from the 3 charities here.
There was an update on peaceful campaigners who have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for non violent direct action at Elbit factories in this country who supply weapons to Israel. And a plea to support the petition to South Yorkshire Pensions Authority to divest from arms companies supplying Israel, Israeli Government Bonds and companies complicit in the Genocide.
Julie read a statement from the Sheffield Nablus Twinning Association. Here is the statement in full.
“The emergency facing Nablus and all governorates in the North of the West Bank demands action by UK and local government, journalists and all media outlets, major institutions and all civil society. In the context of Sheffield’s Declaration of Friendship with Nablus we call on Sheffield MPs and Councillors, representatives of our universities and trade unions, to make public statements of solidarity, and to put pressure on our Government to place sanctions on the Israeli state for its illegal occupation and brazen violations of international and humanitarian law in the West Bank.
We are horrified and alarmed at the systematic ethnic cleansing by Israeli occupation forces of refugee camps in the northern West Bank which has destroyed Jenin, Tulkarem and Nour Shams camps, displaced their populations and now descends on Nablus and surrounding towns and villages. In the previous month all four of the Nablus refugee camps have been subject to armed and lethal raids, abductions, vandalism and the destruction of homes in acts of collective punishment. Journalists and emergency responders in different parts of the city have been under Israeli military attack with live fire, while road gates and check points make entry and exit out of the city dangerous or impossible.
Many people by now will be familiar with the name of Beita, the town in the southern part of Nablus governorate featured in the celebrated and widely viewed Louis Theroux BBC documentary The Settlers. The settlers’ ‘outpost’ and military station of Evyatar occupies stolen Beita land and heavily armed settlers attack the Palestinian farmers and owners. Steadfast but peaceful resistance by the locals has led to many Palestinian deaths over the years.
On April 30th the town was subject to an attack by Israeli forces who have continued to impose a strict siege after two Israeli soldiers were reportedly injured. Dozens of Israeli military vehicles stormed the town, opened fire on residents while they were inside their homes, destroyed water tanks on rooftops, and sabotaged municipal infrastructure. The forces also raided dozens of homes, carried out brutal searches, and abused civilians.
In a provocative move, Israeli soldiers stormed Beita Girls’ Basic School, confiscated surveillance cameras, destroyed the school’s administrative offices, and deliberately fired at the school’s water tanks. Director General of Education in South Nablus, Mr. Samer Al-Jamal called on all human rights, humanitarian, and media organizations to urgently intervene to protect children and educational institutions from ongoing violations.
The closure of the town is inflicting significant financial losses on farmers due to the spoilage of crops entering and exiting the Beita wholesale market. The closure is also affecting the supply of food to thousands of residents. A state of siege is becoming increasingly ‘normal’ for all centres of Palestinian population in the West Bank while Israeli settlers enjoy total freedom of movement and all the protection of the state.
As we write we are hearing of a further lethal raid on Balata refugee camp east of Nablus. The whole of the region is consumed in an ongoing and escalating emergency, including the deliberate killing and mass starvation being imposed on Gaza. This emergency is largely ignored by our mainstream media while our politicians also rarely comment. We remind all those with power to influence change that Britain has an historic responsibility for the injustices and suffering endured for over a century by Palestinians, and a legal obligation to take every possible action to bring them to an end.
We also heard how campaigners are now going door to door to ask people to stop buying Israeli produce and support the Boycott and Divestment Campaigns.
Meanwhile in national news Greta Thunberg has been speaking out about the attack on the Aid ship heading for Gaza.
Find out how you can support the campaign in Sheffield by signing up to the Sheffield Palestine Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid newsletter here.
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