Demo Speech - February 7th
When Karen asked me if I would do the talk after the demo today, I said yes straight away. I will have lots to say. But when I look at the newspapers, Gaza is not often mentioned. In some papers the only pictures are of the national demos, and only when they photographer can find something negative. I really would love to find some positive news.
At the end of January, it was widely reported that Israel ‘accepts health authorities’ Gaza death toll is broadly accurate, saying 70,000 have died’ (Guardian 30/1/26). Gaza health authorities have reported that over 71,660 people have died with at least 10,000 presumed to be under the rubble of bombed buildings. It has taken over 2 years for Israeli officials to admit the death toll. Could this come under positive news? Now that Israeli ministers have given out these figures, will they admit that what they are doing is wrong? But I am afraid it doesn’t. Too many people have died. Too many people have suffered.
All of the Israeli hostages have now been released back to Israel, perhaps we can go onto the next step in the peace process – I will say – don’t hold your breath. Since the start of the ceasefire on 10 October last year, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire and 1405 wounded. I wonder if they will admit these figures……
The next stage is for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to a Board of Peace, which has been organised by Donald Trump. I really cannot find anything positive to say on this, we shall have to wait and see.
The Rafah crossing re-opened on Monday, so that those who need medical care can enter into Egypt. On Monday the Guardian reported that about 20,000 Palestinian adults and children require medical care, and thousands of Palestinians outside are hoping to return home. However, according to Egyptians officials, only about 150 people were due to leave and only 50 to enter (Guardian 2/2/26). In the end, Isreal permitted 5 patients escorted by 2 relatives to cross into Egypt and 12 Palestinians to re-enter. Only 27 in total entering and leaving. Ambulances waited for hours at the border before they could take the patients over at sunset. So I thought some positive news there, but sadly turning negative.
Many aid agencies are no longer allowed to bring in aid, in particular Medecins San Frontieres (MSF) because they refused to hand over a list of it staff in the territory (BBC news online 1/2/26). The Israeli government ordered 37 organisations to submit documents about their workers. They claimed that MSF had links to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. All denied. No documents handed over. So these licences were revoked. Definitely no positive news here.
On Thursday it was reported that Isreal had bulldozered part of the Gaza war cemetery containing graves of allies. I could not understand this because the graves were of British, Australian and other allied soldiers who had been killed in the first and second world wars. This happened last year, but only just coming into the news. Apparently, an underground terrorist infrastructure was identified in the cemetery (Guardian4/2/26).
I would love to hear some stories about hope. Of how Palestinians are coping day to day. But the news is full of Epstein, Mandelson, the Royal Family and Keir Starmer! Calls for Starmer to resign – I was going to say a bit of positive news there! And when you look further, there are implications of wider Israeli connections with Epstein and his friends.
I have saved this news to last, my only really positive news. On Wednesday it was announced that none of the six activists were convicted on any offence over the break-in at Elbit Systems factory on 6 August 2024. Five have been released on bail, because the jury could not reach full verdicts on some of the charges and there could be a possible re-trial.
We come here every two weeks, and I have to say that I am sometimes weary of it all. No matter the weather (except once) we stand here, holding our flags and placards. Listening to some abuse from passersby. Trying not to retaliate. Sometimes our numbers are few, but I have noticed new faces each time. I sometimes wonder if we are doing enough, signing yet another petition. Sharing comments. But at the end I am glad that I do come along, I don’t want my grandchildren to ask me what I did to stop this war. Did I just put my head in the sand and ignored it.
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