There is no end to the 54-year Israeli Occupation which severely impacts the lives of women and children. UN Security Council Resolution 242, drafted by the UK, condemned acquiring territory by force and told Israel to withdraw from territories occupied in 1967. Israel has ignored this resolution and other demands of international law and continues with its illegal acts: taking land, building settlements, demolishing homes, restricting travel, building a Separation Wall, and more. The people of Gaza face dangers, hardships and abuse of rights caused by Israeli closures since 2007 and by the multiple military attacks by Israel between 2008 and 2021.
By the end of March 2021 the number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and detention centres reached 4,450 including 37 women, 140 children and 440 administrative detainees.
In February 2021 the International Criminal Court (ICC), under its chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, opened a formal investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories, covering the period from June 2014.
The new Israeli Prime Minister Bennett refuses to support a two-state solution even though the coalition government does.
Women in Black in London stand in solidarity with Palestinian women in the Israeli occupied territories in their struggle for justice, peace, well-being and a secure, prosperous and nonviolent future for themselves and their children. We stand with Israeli partners too, such as Women in Black Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the Coalition of Women for Peace, Machsom Watch and other organizations in which Jewish and Palestinian Israeli women work together for a peace agreement and sustain contact with Palestinian women in the West Bank and Gaza. With them, we call for full equality in Israel for Jewish and non-Jewish citizens alike.
To the Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA
Dear Prime Minister: with Women in Black I appeal to the British Government to use all means in its power to influence the Israeli Government to redirect its policies towards ending the Occupation, renewing negotiation with Palestinian leaders for a just peace settlement, affording statehood for Palestinians and equality of citizenship for all peoples within the State of Israel. An important step towards this would be the support of the UK Government for the ICC investigations which opened in February 2021.
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Women in Black hold vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue, opposite the door of the National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Place, London WC2. Our vigils are silent, women-only and if possible we wear black. We welcome all women who support our call for an end to militarism and war.
Contact us: Twitter @WIB_London FB @womeninblack.london http://london.womeninblack.org/
Donations for leaflets most welcome