This coming Wednesday 15th May is the day that Palestinians mark and remember the Nakba (an Arabic word meaning catastrophe) when the displacement and forced exile of some 700,00 Palestinians from their homes and land began in 1948. Today there are still some 5 million exiled Palestinians scattered throughout the Middle East. Unbelievably, we are now seeing on our televisions screens – 76 years later – a larger displacement of people, with more indiscriminate killing and greater destruction of homes, buildings, facilities and land in Gaza.
There are two gatherings and vigils taking place in Stoke and Macclesfield on Wednesday 15th May
The Macclesfield gathering is at 12:30 – 2pm, in the Market Place SK10 1HA, to show our solidarity with the Palestinian people. Make a placard (nothing fancy, just cardboard and some pen/crayon), bring your flags, keffiyehs and your friends. Let’s show our Palestinian brothers and sisters that we haven’t forgotten them. You can get more information from: maccpalestine@gmail.com
The Stoke gathering is at 6:00pm at the Bandstand in Hanley Park ST1 4DX, to hold a vigil in commemoration of the 1948 Nakba (‘catastrophe’), the day when the Zionist state of Israel began the destruction of both Palestinian society and homeland. You can get more information from: Stoke PSC on Facebook
The situation in Rafah is catastrophic. The long-threatened full scale military operation, the horrific blocking of aid from entering Gaza and the blatent disregard for human life by Israel are all “red lines” which the USA, Britain and the EU said they would not tolerate. Yet they are still complicit.
We are the people. We won’t be silent. Please let the Foreign Secretary, your MP and MEPs, politicians of all parties, civic, trade union and religious leaders, colleagues, friends and family members know how you feel.
With thanks from Leek-Palestine Link Group