Within hours of Israel’s breaking of the ceasefire, protestors mounted demonstrations in Dorchester, Weymouth, and Bridport on Tuesday evening.
The protests called by the Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign (DPSC) were just some of the many protests in towns and cities nationwide. In London, thousands demonstrated at Downing Street.
Weymouth Protest
The renewed bombing of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure follows 16 days of a complete blockade on the entry of all food, fuel, and medical supplies. Over 500 Palestinians have been killed in two days. Al Jazeera reported entire families had been wiped out and civilian infrastructure targeted. Dozens of videos circulating on Tuesday showed civilians searching for loved ones in morgues and under the rubble of destroyed homes.
Israel’s defence minister promised Palestinians “the gates of hell will open.”
In a statement, the national Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) stated:
“The 17-month-long genocide in Gaza never ended. During the two-month ceasefire, Israel repeatedly violated the agreement, killing 150 Palestinians in Gaza by drone strikes and sniper fire, while simultaneously causing starvation by imposing a complete blockade. Now, it has torn the agreement to shreds.
Bridport Protest
“Yesterday, David Lammy finally admitted in Parliament that Israel’s blockade on Gaza was a “breach of international law.”. But weak words are not enough. For months we’ve asked: How many thousands of Palestinians have to be slaughtered before David Lammy and Keir Starmer finally stop sending weapons to Israel?”
Rob Ferguson, Jewish secretary of DPSC, told protestors in Dorchester:
“Today I am short on words and long on rage. The time for denial of what is taking place is over. To deny genocide is not simply to refute the fact. It is to legitimise its continuation. Those in positions of power or authority who deny the fact, or who suppress voices of solidarity with the victims, share the guilt.”
Dorchester Protest
Dorset PSC is launching a local consumer boycott of Israeli produce and of Coca-Cola as part of national campaigns launched by PSC and a campaign to demand that Dorset Council divest from investments in arms companies that supply weapons to Israel and from companies with ties to illegal settlements and complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank.
