Women in Black London continue to urge restraint by all parties to prevent greater bloodshed in this escalated conflict. While sharing in the condemnation of Hamas’ attack on Israel we are greatly disturbed by the revenge violence that the Israeli government is pouring on the peoples of Gaza directly through bombing raids and indirectly by blockades and the siege that has cut off water, electricity and food supplies. As with allacts of military violence, women and children are the most vulnerable and their rights too often ignored.
Violence and counter violence simply exacerbate years of injustice.
The ongoing occupation of Palestine, and the violence that accompanies it, has been ignored by the world for too long. This occupation includes the demolition of Palestinian homes and commercial buildings. The arrestand detention without trial of children. The clearing of Bedouin communities from ordered a complete siege, stopping food, water and electricity too.
We offer solidarity to women in Palestine and Israel who work for peace and justice.
Women in Black in London stand in solidarity with Palestinian women in the Occupied Territories in their struggle for justice, peace, well-being and a secure, prosperous and nonviolent future for themselves and their children. We standwith 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.
Please write to The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, Foreign Secretary, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AH
Dear Mr Cleverley : As we see an escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine, I appeal to the British
Government to use all means in its power call for a ceasefire and de-escalate the violence in Palestine and Israel and in particular, the violence against the civilian population in Gaza. At the same time we call for measures that:
#Allow humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza to ensure that they have medical care, electricity,
food and water.
#Bring about a negotiated release of those Hamas holds hostage.
#Call on the Israeli Government to lift the siege on Gaza
#Facilitate independent monitoring of the abuse of women and children in particular in both
Palestine and Israel.
#Seek justice and accountability for Palestinians and action over forced evictions, displacement, settler
violence and ethnic cleansing.
#End the arms trade between the UK and Israel. The weapons and military technology that we buy and
sell are used to enforce the illegal occupation of Palestine.
Thank you for your vital work. I heard about your organisation from an interview with Yair Wallach just now. Thank you too for your suggested letter as I am in the middle of drafting one to my MP.
I had some advice about letters, just in case it is helpful. I used to work in a Cabinet Minister’s office (and later an MP’s office). If letters came from an MP forwarding a letter from their constituent, then the reply would have to be signed by the Cabinet Minister or at least another government minister (even if a civil servant drafts it). If the letter came directly from a member of public, it was passed down to a civil servant to answer, often after many months (whereas, by protocol, a minister must respond to an MP within a set time limit).
Therefore, to make the Foreign Secretary (or at least a minister) aware of the strength of feeling and push these opinions higher up their agenda, it may be more effective to advise your supporters to write to their MPs (specifically requesting that their concerns be forwarded to the Foreign Secretary), perhaps by providing a link such as http://www.writetothem.com.
I think we should also urge out government to reach out and support all those moderate politicians and representatives of people in Gaza and Israel who support a long term 2 state solution.
We should insist on equal representation for women at any peace negotiations.
Thank you for everything
I’m only four and I must die, sorry if I cry
I know I must be bad, me or my dad
Sorry to waste your bombs, the ones you were saving to kill some moms
I should not have made new friends, or played with toys, what silly boys
We were soulless and now we’re dead, we apologise for being fed
I deserve to die, I must be bad, and keep on going, and kill my dad
I wasn’t chosen, I understand, it’s written down, it’s all been planned
God is right and I must die, he told you, so you know why
Great men judge wrong from right, they have to kill they have to fight
And I’m one of a thousand bad babies dead, much needed good bloodshed
Blow me up, it’s for the best, no land required for my last rest
Forget my face, I look a fright, do your duty, it’s all right