Israel has continued its brutal massacres in its occupation of Gaza in Palestine attacking displacement shelter centres as well as the bombing by its fighter jets on the schools. On August 8 it bombed Al-Zara, Abdul Fattah Hamoud schools resulting in 15 killed and dozens injured which was then followed by the bombing of the Al-Tabin school on August 10 killing at least 100 Palestinians during early morning prayers. Most of the victims were children and the elderly who were blown to bits by bombs and weaponry supplied and supported by the US and its allies including Britain.

Emergency Demonstration Stop the Massacre in Gaza, Downing Street, August 12

Following the massacre, Foreign Secretary David Lammy tried to distance the British government from this crime but only with a derisory "tweet" that showed how desperate the government is not to be seen to be confronting Israel seriously over its war crimes. The tweet said he was "appalled by the Israeli Military strike on Al-Tabin school and the tragic loss of life", but immediately tried then to put the blame on the Palestinian resistance in Gaza by claiming that "Hamas must stop endangering civilians" whilst lamely making the call that "Israel must comply with International Humanitarian Law". But of course, David Lammy and the government have no intention of holding Israel to account over international law and that has been seen with all their dealings in opposing the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In fact, as they have shown, they have every intention of continuing to support Israel in this genocidal war against the Palestinians.

Also, the German government deputy spokesman Wolfgang Buechner reiterated that "Israel has the right to defend itself" [1] justifying the massacre by blaming the Palestine resistance in the same way as Lammy. In a press release Hamas stated: "The massacre at Al-Tabin school in Daraj neighbourhood is a continuation of the Nazi-Zionist genocide against our people, and the US administration is complicit in such crimes." Hamas also stated that "the enemy fabricates pretexts to target civilians, schools, hospitals and tents of the displaced people, all of which are flimsy pretexts and blatant lies to justify its crimes" [2].

Following this massacre the US also approved a further $20 billion arms deal for Israel announced on Tuesday. The sale is said to include more than 50 F-15 fighter jets; Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs; 120 mm tank ammunition and high explosive mortars; and military vehicles. Trying to justify the unjustifiable sale of weapons to Israel the US State Department claimed: "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defence capability." According to the State Department, "This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives."

This week also marks 100 days since Israel's occupation army began its closure and destruction of the Rafah border crossing, a closure that has led to the deaths of over 1,000 children, patients and wounded, unable to cross the border into Egypt to receive treatment. The humanitarian catastrophe continues on all fronts caused by the occupation army and their western allies. Everyone should support the Palestinians demand to open the Rafah crossing immediately.

Emergency Demonstration Stop the Massacre in Gaza, Downing Street, August 12

Such war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian people continue be justified and supported by western governments in spite of the massive opposition of the people in these countries demonstrating in their thousands almost on a daily basis. On Monday, August 12, thousands took part in an Emergency Stop the Genocide protest outside Downing Street asking how much longer are people going to have to see this genocide continue which is an affront to all humanity, whilst the government supports Israel in its war crimes.

The British and world's people are standing with Palestine. The people's forces must continue to build this fight and finish what the standing-with-Palestine movement has started, that is, to stop Britain's support for this genocide in its tracks. Our focus must be to urgently demand that the US and Britain take a genuine stance against Israel's bombardment and massacres in Gaza and halt all their military involvement in these crimes and their economic support and military aid to Israel.

After Parliament reconvenes on September 2, there will be a march for Palestine on Saturday, September 7 at 12 noon, when the demands "End the genocide, Stop arming Israel, No Middle East war, No to Islamophobia!" will once again resound in the streets of London.

Keep up the fight we have all started together!
Stop Israel! Stop Israeli genocide! Stop Britain's support for Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing!
Support Palestine, Support the Palestinian resistance!

Notes
1. Germany says Israeli strike on Gaza school killing 100 Palestinians was 'self-defence' - Middle East Eye August 14 2024
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/germany-says-israel-strike-gaza-school-killing-100-palestinians-self-defence
2. Hamas Press Statement - August 10, 2024, Telegram

The UCU (University and College Union) announced on July 31 that staff at Goldsmiths will take continuous strike action from Monday, September 23, as part of its long running dispute over the university's brutal redundancy programme. According to the UCU, 86% of members who took part in the ballot to extend the current industrial action voted in favour, on a turnout of 62%.

This level of turnout has involved a big effort from department UCU reps and other union officers and activists going into getting out the vote. Under Britain's vicious anti-union laws, any ballot on industrial action needs a 50% turnout to be effective. If this undemocratic 50% turnout threshold were applied to political elections in the UK, thousands of councillors and Members of Parliament would not be allowed to take their seats. Also as part of anti-union legislation, industrial action has a six-month mandate before running out. Only postal votes are allowed for trade union ballots, and given Britain's decaying privatised mail, this creates a barrier to achieve the 50% turnout. Nevertheless, the outcome has reflected the seriousness with which Goldsmiths staff view the situation, with a high level of anger amongst lecturers and other staff. In the face of 97 redundancies, a large chunk of academic staff, union members at Goldsmiths are redoubling their militancy and believe that continued resistance will bring victory.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Industrial action on this scale is a last resort but our members have been pushed to breaking point by Goldsmiths' insistence on forcing through its brutal redundancy programme. Management is in danger of turning Goldsmiths into an academic wasteland by slashing jobs and courses. They must think again, cancel the cuts and work with us to safeguard Goldsmiths' future. If they do not, we will have no choice but to take long term industrial action from September."

While the national picture is bleak with 40% of universities at risk of financial deficit, the Goldsmiths Senior Management team (SMT) must bear their responsibility for Goldsmiths crisis [1]. It is widely thought amongst staff that there is no current risk of Goldsmiths going bankrupt, but that the redundancies are being used, not just to save money but to weaken militancy and to restructure Goldsmiths along managerial lines. A college famous for sociology and the arts could end up as a bland institution dedicated to management studies.

Thus as well as redundancies, the so-called Transformation Programme would remove individual academic departments at Goldsmiths, with the SMT increasingly centralising and controlling the curriculum. History and sociology are particular targets for destruction. The SMT were going to close Goldsmiths' award winning Black British Literature and Black British History modules. The current industrial action has prevented this, although with continuing proposed redundancies staff teaching these modules are still at severe risk. Likewise if lecturers teaching Queer History are made redundant, despite not being formally axed this module will also disappear from Goldsmiths [2]. The UCU reports that it has already carried out a global academic boycott [3] of the institution and is calling on members, university workers, trade unionists, and supporters worldwide to boycott the university.

The marking and assessment boycott (MAB) in place has meant that UCU members have not been marking students' examinations and coursework. This has proved a powerful weapon of resistance. A wild-cat MAB in 2020 successfully prevented 500 staff on short-term contracts from being sacked [4]. Among the lecturers, there is the feeling that this gives an insight into the mindset of Goldsmiths' SMT, as it is worth remembering that the sackings were threatened during the Covid pandemic when staff were especially vulnerable.

Knowing that the MAB has been an effective tactic, the SMT have been deducting 50% of pay for members taking part and increasing pressure on staff. In response, the Goldsmiths UCU have been raising hardship funds to help lecturers resist [5]. Goldsmiths UCU members are sure that they have the ability to end the redundancy threat and the damaging transformation programme. "Dare to struggle, dare to win" is their slogan! Workers' Weekly wishes them every success in their struggle.

Notes
1.https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/may/16/universities-in-england-risk-closure-with-40-per-cent-facing-budget-deficits-report-office-for-students
2.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/goldsmiths-queer-studies-university-controversy-b2583762.html
3.https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/13610/UCU-declares-academic-boycott-of-Goldsmiths-over-job-cuts
4. My university plans to lose 500 casual staff - so I'm refusing to mark exams | Anonymous | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/01/goldsmiths-sack-casual-staff-exams-universities-covid-19
5. To support Goldsmiths UCU, donate to the hardship fund here:https://goldsmithsucu.org/support-fund/