Richmond & Kingston Palestinian Solidarity Campaign call on Lib Dem leader for ceasefire
By Emily Dalton
6th Nov 2023 | Local News
Richmond & Kingston Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (RKPSC) have called on Lib Dem leader Ed Davey demanding an immediate ceasefire.
Campaigners congregated outside the Kingston MP's office at 11am Saturday (4 November) and posted a letter through his constituency door.
Ayesha Shah said: "We represent the 2,000 supporters of the [RKPSC] to urge Mr Davey and his party to come out publicly to state the need for an immediate ceasefire. A 'humanitarian pause' will not end the violence, it will not stop the bombs.
"We call on you to rethink your party's position."
RKPSC is a local branch of Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) which was founded in 1982 during the build-up to Israel's invasion of Lebanon.
Written by chair of the local campaign group, Iyas Al Quasm, the letter to Ed Davey said: "We are severely disappointed in the lack of leadership shown by yourself and your party, and your failure to hold the government to account.
"Reliance on the strategy of 'humanitarian pause' fails to grasp the scale of loss of civilian life, destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, and Israel's egregious ongoing violations of international law."
In a statement today, Monday 6 November, Gaza's health ministry said the death toll had risen to at least 10,022 Palestinians, including 4,104 children. It added the number of those wounded increased to 25,408.
With banners, placards and flags, the group of around 96 people walked from Davey's office through to outside The Bentall's centre.
Chants reverberated around the marchers at frequent intervals. Including: "One, two, three, four- occupation no more; five, six, seven, eight- Israel is a terror state"; and the contentious: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
As the marchers walked past Kingston University, a man ran through the group with a Remembrance poppy. A Chessington Police Liaison Officer swiftly took the man aside and no further action was taken.
Arriving outside Bentall's just past midday, the marching group were greeted by other campaigners.
RKPSC handed out leaflets and had conversations with passersby.
Independent councillor James Giles attended the demonstration. He commended the solidarity campaign and criticised the inaction of the council saying: "All 48 councillors should be here."
Kingston Council has not yet released a statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Crowds of people slowly built as the shouting continued, with some shoppers joining in on the action. Over 300 people congregated in the centre, with 122 new sign-ups.
Campaigner, Roshan Pedder, said: "It is important to speak out...it's not about religion it's about humanitarianism."
Gaza normally receives 500 lorry loads of supplies a day, but only a fraction of that amount has been passing through.
Calls for a ceasefire are in response to Israel's retaliating bombing on Gaza since terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack, killing around 1,400 Israeli civilians and taking hundreds of hostages.
Mrs Pedder read out Jewish poet Michael Rosen's poem 'Don't mention the children'; Rosen wrote the piece after the 2014 Gaza bombings and Israel had banned radio advert listing the names of children killed.
One campaigner, speaking to the crowd, said: "This is not a war. Gaza does not have an army, Gaza does not have a navy, Gaza does not have an air force. This is ethnic cleansing; this is a crime against humanity. This is genocide."
A wide and diverse audience of individuals, couples and families- young and old- students and teenagers gathered in the centre in solidarity. Children also attended: some sat on parents shoulders, others in prams, and some held signs and joined in the chanting.
Many had donned wearing the Palestinian flag or colours that resembled it. People held placards calling for a 'Free Palestine', young woman held some cardboard with "Allow the aid, open the border" written on it, another had "bombing is not self-defence". One man carried a sign stating: "Ceasefire now: only justice for Palestinians van bring peace to Israel."
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has recently called Pro-Palestinian demonstrations as 'hate marches'.
As part of a collaborated statement, PSC said such statements are "deeply irresponsible" in "encouraging" far-right activism. It added: "Each of the demonstrations we have called have been peaceful and attended by hundreds of thousands of people and families from a diverse cross-section of British society.
"Those marching are united in their belief that violence should stop and that international law- which prohibits the targeting and killing of civilians- should be respected."
Kingston Met police officers stood either side of the group, watching the demonstration.
On one occasion two members of the public became heated in a debate with a woman walking off. The group initially turned with a few shouting: "Shame on you". However, campaign organisers at the front took control and changed the chants back to: "Free, free Palestine."
Many demonstrators stated they were going on to Trafalgar Square later to join protestors calling for a Gaza ceasefire.
A YouGov poll dated 19 October found that 58% of 2,685 people state there should 'definitely' be a ceasefire, 5% said there should 'probably' not be a ceasefire, with 16% stating they do not know.
Mrs Shah initially called the march to a close around 12:30pm. But with few disappearing, the campaign gained a new lease of life by 1pm with more people adding to the gathering.
The next national march is due to take place on Saturday 11 November. The campaigners state in a leaflet they have "no intention of marching on or near Whitehall" to prevent disruption of Remembrance events at the Cenotaph.
Nub News asked Mrs. Shah what the RKPSC's response is to arguments that Israel has a right to defend itself.
Mrs Shah replied: "The right to self-defense does not give any group the right to engage in violence or to violate the human rights of others. Both Israelis and Palestinians have suffered as a result of the conflict, and it is important to work towards a peaceful resolution that respects the rights and dignity of all people involved."
Ed Davey has been contacted for comment. A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said: "Ed is fully supportive of a temporary humanitarian ceasefire immediately to provide an opportunity for aid to get into Gaza, for the hostages to be released, and intesive negotiations aimed at a political solution, including two states.
"Ed has also called for the international community to ensure the Israeli Government follows international law. Ed believes the only way to achieve peace in the Middle East is for Hamas to release the hostages, for both sides to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire, and for serious talks to create the long delayed two-state solution."
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