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| Volume 55 Number 2, February 1, 2025 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
January 18, London
The national demonstration in London on January 18 standing with Palestine, the day after the ceasefire deal had been reached in Gaza, was faced with aggressive police intimidation and arrests. The arrest of 77 demonstrators showed that it is the British state in conjunction with the most reactionary Zionism that is the source of intimidation and violence. It is the anti-war movement and those calling for justice in Palestine and an end to the genocide who take a principled stand who represent the sentiment of humanity.
January 18, London
Stop the War stated: "Our position on this is clear - it is nothing but a direct assault on freedom of assembly and democracy and an attempt by the State to close down protests on the question of Palestine." They added: "All charges against peaceful demonstrators must be dropped - immediately. We know that this repression of the right to peacefully protest will not end with us. In recent years, we have seen the establishment attack one group after another. From trade unionists on the railways to junior doctors, from Extinction Rebellion to Just Stop Oil, the government will go after anyone who campaigns for a change to the status quo."
Palestinians in Gaza celebrating the ceasefire
announcement
The Palestine Coalition, which includes Stop the War and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, called an emergency public meeting on January 25, following the violent arrest of their chief steward Chris Nineham at the national Palestine protest, and the charges brought against Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell were also called in for police questioning. Dozens of prominent legal scholars have called for an independent inquiry into the Metropolitan Police actions during the protest. The intimidation of those standing with the justice of the Palestinian cause must end!
January 25, Newcastle
On Saturday, January 25, hundreds marched from Newcastle University Medical School to demand accountability for Israel's decimation of the entire health care system in Gaza. The march was organised by Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign. At the Monument in the centre of Newcastle powerful speakers addressed a rally, and testimonials from doctors on the ground in Gaza were shared with the activists and members of the public. The speakers demanded the release of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and the release of all medical hostages currently abducted and incarcerated by the Zionist entity. The message of the demonstration was that targeting the health care sector and medical personnel is a war crime!
January 30, Royal Courts of Justice
There were powerful protests on January 30 outside the Royal Courts of Justice where 16 environmental activists are appealing prison sentences of years in length, which are purely punitive, and the longest of their kind in modern British history. At a rally outside the courts, there were also speeches in defence of activists against the manufacturers of arms in the UK used by Israel in Gaza. The activists have been imprisoned on remand for over a year now. Mothers of two of the activists spoke movingly and seriously in solidarity with their daughters and condemning the justice system.
