Mass demonstration in Sana'a in support of Palestine and against US-UK air strikes, March 17, 2025

Over the weekend of March 15-16, the Anglo-US coalition bombed Yemen cities striking the capital Sanaa repeatedly on Saturday and targeting the residential neighbourhood in the Sha'ub district, north of the capital killing, according to reports, at least 31 civilians and injuring 100 more. This follows the reinstatement of Yemen's ban on Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea as Israel continues its refusal to let in food and other life-saving aid to Gaza, breaching the ceasefire agreement and stepping up its bombing of Gaza, which killed 400 Palestinians on Tuesday, March 18. Such a barbaric military bombing of Gaza and Yemen continues to reveal the true nature of this Anglo-US-Israeli coalition in the Red Sea as a "genocide coalition" that continues to be condemned by the world's people.

US air strike in Al-Mina district in Hodeida province in Yemen, March 18, 2025

On March 16, The Guardian reported that US airstrikes against Sanaa "may continue for weeks", making no reference to British involvement at all. Simultaneously, the BBC claimed outright that London "did not participate" in the previous day's bombing, but then admitted that British planes supplied "routine refuelling support for the US". However, an article by investigative journalist Kit Klarenberg reports that "a mass media omertà on Britain's central - if not leading - role in the West's long-running collective effort to crush AnsarAllah [known as the Houthis - Ed.] has effectively been in place ever since the Yemeni civil war erupted in late 2014. This is despite ample open source evidence - including statements made in parliament by government ministers - testifying to London's outsized responsibility for the death and devastation that has been rained down on Sanaa almost without pause ever since." [1] The article goes on to expose Britain's covert war on Yemen and the rationale for Britain's interest in Yemen, which, it says, is to "stop one of the most potent regional threats to Israel" by the Anglo-US genocidal coalition. The article points out that Britain's support for "Saudi Arabia's preceding genocidal, eight-year-long aerial intervention in the civil war represented an almost unprecedented bonanza for London's arms industry". Moreover, "these interrelated conflicts provided a golden opportunity to fulfil the long-held fantasy of restoring a British military presence 'East of Suez', following their 1967 ouster by Yemeni liberation forces."

Since the present Israeli genocidal war started against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, hundreds of thousands of people in Yemen have continued to hold regular massive rallies in Yemen's capital Sanaa, to express solidarity with Palestinians. Whilst Israel has also bombed Yemen with US and British logistical support, the Yemeni people are continuing to stand with people across the world against the Gaza genocide, and their actions are one of the most powerful statements that Israel must be stopped, and that the genocide must be stopped. They are an indispensable factor in bringing the genocide to an end and holding the US, Britain and other European powers to account, alongside the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people themselves.

The British working class and people must condemn and oppose Britain's warmongering government for its participation in the Anglo-US-Israeli genocidal coalition against Yemen and the Palestinians as well as all the peoples standing against Israeli genocide in West Asia.

Stop bombing Yemen!
Stand with Palestine - it is a matter of conscience, principle and heart!
Fight for an anti-war government in Britain!

Notes
1. "Exposing Britain's Covert War On Yemen", Kit Klarenberg, investigative journalist exploring the role of intelligence services in shaping politics and perceptions.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-159371258

Sana'a, Yemen demonstration in solidarity with Palestine, November 29, 2024

The Yemeni resistance continues to support the people of Gaza, and is undeterred by the renewed US-UK airstrikes across Yemen, including many residential areas, that started on March 15. Some 50 people were killed on the first day alone. The aggression is a reprisal against the Yemeni Resistance which on March 11 reinstated its ban on Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, until Israel ended its blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza that violates the Ceasefire Agreement and international law. Since November 2023, the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) have carried out more than 100 attacks in a show of solidarity with Gaza. They temporarily suspended their operations when the latest ceasefire took effect in January.

While the YAF were initially only targeting Israeli ships, they are now taking action to defend the people of Yemen by targeting US warships. On March 16, the YAF confirmed they had targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman and its accompanying warships in the northern Red Sea with 18 ballistic and cruise missiles, along with drones.

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Al-Houthi underscored that "there is no alternative to bearing responsibility in confronting and resisting the Israeli enemy", warning that "if Israel succeeds in eliminating the Palestinian cause, it will expand its crimes to other countries without any restraint".

Al-Houthi addressed the ongoing negotiations, stating that "Hamas cannot be coerced into making concessions regarding the second phase of the agreement in order to prevent war". He stressed that "Hamas cannot be pressured into relinquishing the prisoner exchange card, only for Israel to later resume its aggression".

He accused Israel of "shamelessly pressuring Hamas to complete the exchange outside the agreed framework and without moving to the second phase", adding that "Israel is evading its obligations to end its aggression on Gaza and complete its withdrawal from the Strip".

Yemen's Foreign Minister Jamal Amer underlined on March 18 that Yemen would not scale back its operations against Israeli shipping in the Red Sea in response to US military pressure or appeals from allies such as Iran. This disproves any claim that the Yemeni people do not have their own aims and agency. Within the broader Axis of Resistance, they are no one's proxy. For its part, the US is threatening to escalate its military aggression against not only Yemen, but beyond it, with President Trump on March 17 saying that Yemen's acts of resistance give a pretext for aggression against Iran.

Naji Abu Seif -- "Abu Hamza"

The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine (IJP) informed that its leader Naji Abu Saif, known by the nom de guerre "Abu Hamza", the military spokesperson for Al-Quds Brigade (Saraya al-Quds), the movement's military wing, was targeted by the US/Zionist assassins in their criminal March 17-18 attack on Gaza.

Beit Hanoun residents fleeing as Israel launches air strikes

"With great pride and honour, the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine announces to our great Palestinian people and to the Arab and Islamic nations the martyrdom of leader Naji Abu Saif Abu Hamza," IJP said, adding that he was "assassinated by the criminal army in a treacherous attack that also targeted his family and the family of his brother".

The Islamic Jihad Movement stated: "This treacherous and hateful assassination carried out by the criminal Zionist entity comes as part of a series of brutal and bloody massacres that have spilled the blood of hundreds of innocent people, including children and women, with the support, encouragement, and financing of the US administration, while the world remains silent and cowardly."

Israeli air strikes near Khan Younis setting displaced persons camp on fire, March 17-18, 2025

Citing the IJP, Al Mayadeen reported that "Abu Hamza dedicated his life to defending Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian people, becoming a prominent media figure who people awaited for updates on the latest developments and the stance of Saraya al-Quds."

On February 12, Abu Hamza had confirmed that the fate of the Israeli prisoners held by the resistance in the Gaza Strip "is tied to the behaviour of the head of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, for better or worse", holding the Israeli government responsible for its ongoing violations of the Ceasefire Agreement.

While the violations have been condemned by numerous countries and human rights groups, the US and Britain have continued support for Israel, asserting that the military campaign was carried out with prior knowledge and approval from Washington.

The Government Media Office (GMO) in the Gaza Strip also informed that a number of government officials were martyred in the criminal US/Zionist raid.

In a statement, Hamas said: "The claims made by the [Israeli] occupation regarding preparations by the Resistance to launch an attack on its forces are baseless and are merely false pretexts to justify its return to war and escalate its bloody aggression."

Hamas accused the Zionist entity of "attempting to mislead public opinion and fabricate false justifications to cover up its premeditated decision to resume its genocidal campaign against defenceless civilians, disregarding any commitments it made."

March 18 protest against Israel's renewed genocide of the Palestinian people - Photo: Steph Pike

Over 3,000 protesters took to the streets of London on March 18 against Israel's renewed genocide of the Palestinian people which killed 400 Palestinians overnight. A large proportion of the casualties were children and the elderly, a key characteristic of Israel's targeting.

Manchester protest on March 19 against Israel's renewed genocide - Photo: Senay Nyang

People were rightfully angry that this genocide can only continue with the direct involvement of the British government, and came together in an emergency demonstration outside Downing Street. Speakers and protesters made connections between Starmer's planned cuts to PIP for disabled people to fund military spending. It was a powerful statement that the people will continue to take action until the genocide is ended.

An emergency rally took place in Bristol on March 19. Passionate and unified speeches from all sectors of the community were made with a sense of defiance and a message of "Welfare not Warfare", from Bristol Palestinian Voices, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop The War, BDS, trade unionists, healthcare workers and students, all standing in solidarity for Palestine.

Glasgow protest on March 19 against Israel's renewed genocide - Photo: Steven McWilliam

In response to the shameful breach of the Israeli/Gaza ceasefire, over 50 trade unionists and activists gathered at the Duke of Wellington statue in Edinburgh to protest. Speeches were made by representatives from EIS, GGEC, Educators for Peace, and Stop the War.

In Manchester, Stop the War supported the emergency protest held on the evening of Tuesday, March 18, in response to the renewed violent bombing of Gaza. A crowd of approximately 150 people came together at short notice. The protest expressed solidarity with Palestine and utter condemnation of the British government for their complicity and participation in genocide.

Meeting at the steps of Buchanan gallery in Glasgow on the evening of Wednesday, March 19, hundreds of people gathered to demonstrate against the
Demonstration in London at the Israeli Embassy on March 22most recent breaking of the Gaza ceasefire and in solidarity with the Palestinian people. One of the speakers was a Glasgow University student who was involved in the campus occupation who spoke of the response and escalation from Police Scotland threatening the student movement with arrest. Different speakers made passionate arguments against the British government's complicity in this genocide. The energy was one of resistance and defiance.

Over 100 people attended the emergency rally in Preston City Centre on the evening of Tuesday, March 18. The rally was addressed by local trade unionists and community leaders and agreed on a further local march and rally on April 6.

An emergency protest took place in Coventry on Wednesday, March 19, at the Godiva statue, Broadgate against the resumption of Israeli mass attacks on Gaza.

On Tuesday, March 18, the Resistance Kitchen joined other local community groups to protest outside Croydon town hall demanding Croydon council divest from the arms trade and genocide. The Resistance Kitchen points out that Croydon council is bankrupt, it is cutting services, closing down libraries, selling off assets, and raising council tax by unprecedented levels. And yet at the same time it has lent Israel half a million pounds bail out money to help bankroll genocide in Gaza!

An emergency demonstration and rally took place on Saturday, March 22, at 12.30pm outside the Israeli Embassy, demanding "End the Genocide, Ceasefire Now!" Speakers emphasised that the action was part of that of people of conscience throughout the world, as Israel renewed its genocidal bombing of Gaza. The struggle continues and will continue to grow until Palestine is free.

Further protests have been organised for Sunday, with demonstrators set to mark Al-Quds Day, with a demonstration and rally for Palestine, assembling at Marble Arch at 2.30pm, and marching to the BBC in Portland Place. The theme is "United against Genocide in Palestine".

Action at UCL, London, March 18

Action at Bristol, March 20

Action at Preston, March 20

(Counterfire, Workers' Weekly)

A large demonstration and rally of 400 people took place on Saturday, March 22, outside the Israeli Embassy against the ongoing genocidal war in Palestine. Gaza has been mercilessly bombed for 18 months and the aggression is still ongoing. The US and its European allies have been arming Israel under the pretext that "Israel has a right to defend itself" and labelling Hamas as a "terrorist organisation". Israel has also bombed Lebanon.

Speaker after speaker at the rally condemned the genocide of the Zionist State of Israel. Gaza has been turned into wasteland with destroyed housing, hospitals, water supplies and access to food supplies.

This is being carried out with the full support of US imperialism and its allies including Britain. The UK continues to supply bombs via its military base in Cyprus. It was stated at the demonstration that 70% of the victims are women and children.

The rally ended with the final call to continue the protests until "Palestine is free".

Workers' Weekly activist at the demonstration

Birmingham striking bin workers - Photo: Unite

Rubbish has built up in the streets across Birmingham as refuse collectors escalate their actions, with the commissioner-led Birmingham City Council and its private agency, Job & Talent, deliberately replacing permanent workers with temporary agency staff in an attempt to break strikes.

Almost 400 workers began their indefinite strike on March 11, over the council's scrapping of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role, causing pay cuts of up to £8,000 to 150 workers. Not only is there no path for pay progression, but the council is also preparing further pay downgrades to other non-management jobs, according to Unite. This is on top of a situation where most Birmingham refuse workers are already on very low pay for what is a tough job, working out in all weather conditions. According to Unite, the majority of these workers are paid between £24,027 and £25,992 - barely above the annual minimum wage.

Police break picket line at Atlas Road depot - Photo Nick Wilkinson, Birmingham Live

Workers have previously agreed to pay cuts - including a £1,000 cut in shift pay - following the council's so-called "bankruptcy". Indeed, it is the latest phase of a long-running struggle. A seven-week dispute in 2017 ended with an agreement from the council that certain posts would not be made redundant, while workers were forced into accepting rota changes. The dispute broke out again in 2019, over "conciliatory payments", paid to none of those on strike two years earlier, ending the following month with a financial settlement.

In a vain attempt to break the latest strike, Birmingham City Council has been replacing additional refuse workers with agency staff. The council, through agency Job & Talent, has been using agency labour to undermine the strikes. This is an illegal practice. The council even dismissed three agency workers just for speaking to picketers, justifying the sackings as due to "lack of work". Unite has called on the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to act against this illegal practice.

Agency staff already make up 40% of the city's refuse workforce. The dispute over the council's attacks on bin workers has brought into focus the condition of these staff, say the union, who have exposed the more than £6.5 million a year extra on top of wages to the agencies. One so-called temporary worker has been at the council for 13 years.

Birmingham's waste service is in serious crisis, facing deteriorating service quality due to budget cuts, staff instability, and outdated equipment, in a situation of such severe underfunding that it amounts to outright wrecking of this essential service.

Meanwhile, the streets of Birmingham have suffered as bins pile up, creating public health risks and fuelling general public discontent. The effects of the action underscore the necessity for investment in such basic services, without which there is simply chaos. Rubbish is in some places strewn across roads almost barricading them, according to reports, while rats and cockroaches are taking over. Birmingham MP Preet Gill has warned of a "public health emergency".

The public authority in Birmingham has been systematically wrecked in recent years, significantly including the effects of severe government funding cuts, culminating in its alleged "bankruptcy" in August 2023. How the council of Britain's second city can be declared financially bankrupt is the height of capital-centric irrationality. The massive value created by the services it provides could not be clearer as the effects of this strike unfold.

Rather, this so-called bankruptcy has been the excuse to appoint commissioners representing private interests, in what amounts to a coup at the level of local government. These commissioners were handed control of the council by the previous government in October 2023, which appointed six commissioners and two political advisors to oversee the council. The commissioners, led by Max Caller, effectively exercise control over the council via extensive powers, including amending budgets and appointing or dismissing senior staff. Their role is to guide the council through a "recovery" plan, which may involve selling assets, cutting services, and increasing council tax.

"Birmingham's zombie council is being controlled by unelected commissioners who are slashing services and attacking jobs. The city's refuse workers are fighting back with Unite's full support," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. "The country had 14 years of disastrous austerity under the previous government - more of the same is just making things worse in Birmingham. This is the opposite of what Labour was elected to do. Ministers need to step in and tell the commissioners to leave."

The council is foisting the problems onto the backs of the workers and the people in Birmingham, problems which are not of their making, and total disaster is the result. The commissioners are leading the attacks on the refuse workers, hampering negotiations, and conducting a programme of devastating cuts across the city. Instead, people need control over their livelihoods and living conditions. The fight of the bin workers for their claims and their rights is also directed towards this end. Enough is Enough!

(Sources: Unite, Birmingham Mail, BBC)