Hundreds gather for peace vigil to mark one year since Israeli war on Gaza

UNITED KINGDOM: Muslims, Christians and Jews have gathered for a peace vigil in Birmingham, calling for peace in Palestine and marking a whole year since the start of the latest war on Gaza.

On Monday 7 October, members of Birmingham’s diverse interfaith communities came together in the city centre to remember all the lives lost in Palestine over the last 365 days and those lost in the brutal Israeli occupation over the last 76 years.

Muslim leaders were joined by Jewish rabbis, Christian representatives and people of all faiths and none to show solidarity with the people of Gaza, who have been bombarded by Israeli military strikes for over the last 12 months, which have killed over 42,000 people and displaced millions.

National Stop the War Coalition patron Salma Yaqoob addressed the hundreds of people who had gathered for the rally.

“Thank you to each and everyone of you who have come out tonight because you have humanity in your hearts. Why did you leave your workplaces, your homes, to come to Birmingham city centre?

“Not because you have all the power, not because if you say so a ceasefire would happen straight away, but to show that you are with people who are suffering at their difficult time. To say that a year on, none of us want to see those hostages be hostages a day longer. We all want them restored to their homes, and none of us support the terrible vengeance and inhumanity that was unleashed a year ago.”

Israel’s latest wave of attacks on the Gaza Strip has in recent months escalated into the West Bank, and expanded into internationally condemned Israeli military strikes on Lebanon, Syria and Yemen; while dangerously renewing tension between Israel and Iran.

“History did not start on October 7th one year ago, and I know most of you know this, but it’s important to remind people. It’s been over 70 years, 70 years of brutal occupation,” continued Salma Yaqoob.

“But what’s changed in this last year, my brothers, sisters and fellow Brummies, is that the veil has been lifted from so many people now. People now understand the nature of this regime. People understand now because the evidence is there. It keeps us awake at night while we’re scrolling, what we’re seeing on our social media, a live genocide.

“People used to say ‘if we were alive during the holocaust, we would’ve stopped it’, we share stories, the commemorations, “never again”. And we think how could world leaders at that time stand by and be silent? But we know now, don’t we?

“We know because our own leaders right now on this very day in England say ‘we stand with Israel’ despite knowing the atrocities, and not just knowing but supplying the very weapons with which these atrocities are carried out.”

The candle-lit peace vigil included mention of names of some of the tens of thousands of civilians who have been killed as a result of Israeli bomb attacks, including children, health workers and journalists.

A minute’s silence was also be observed as a mark of respect; as invited speakers shared their reflections of solidarity, prayer and peace.

Abdullah Said, the joint head of community engagement from MEND, told the crowd:

“For too long the people of Gaza have been subjected to unimaginable suffering, living under siege, bombarded and dehumanised by one of the most advanced war machines in the world.

“Yet, even in the darkest moments, their spirit remains unbroken. There’s no shortage of stories of devastation faced by the people of Gaza. For a whole year, we witnessed the heartache, we felt the heartbreak.”

Anti-war activists, artists, and academics also joined the event. Among them poets Misbah, Kohinoor, and Mariyha Buchanan, who read out ‘Palestinian Alphabet’, a work she penned in response to the military strikes on Gaza.

Livestreaming during the vigil, Black Country artist Vik Chandla shaved his head, also in solidarity with Gaza, an act which has so far raised over £800 for the people of Palestine. His Sikh faith had previously prevented him from cutting his hair for 10 years, but the Gaza plight was just as important, he told Birmingham Live:

“I am aiming to raise £1,000 and people are still donating. This war has been going on and this is the last stand of colonialism, but this time the whole world is watching.

“I am hoping by doing this we raise awareness, we can do small donations or boycott corporations and thereby affect policy.”

Qur’anic recitation was presented by young Hanzalah Haider, accompanied by youth activist Abu Umaymah who spoke on behalf of Birmingham 4 Palestine.

Palestinian refugee Ammar Saleh and Palestinian academic Professor Kamel Hawwash were joined by Naeem Malik from the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who all reflected on recent events, in between chants from attendees who waved Birmingham Stop the War Coalition placards.

Ofrah Al Muflahi, a senior nurse and Founding Director of the British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association, represented health workers at the vigil; as did London general practitioner Mahmoud Tawfik from London.

Also travelling to the gathering from London were members of orthodox Jewish group Neturei Karta. Rabbi Shimon Keyes spoke on their behalf:

“I feel like I have to begin my words with my anguish and frustrations that this current war is continuing for so long. Every time we think maybe this is the end and then not only has it not finished but now it’s escalated in Lebanon as well with the same playbook,” said Keyes.

“You see videos of [Benjamin] Netanyahu coming with a nice, caring look on his face and serious voice, telling civilians to go and keep out of harm’s way, ‘make sure you don’t get hurt, and then indiscriminate bombings of entire apartment buildings, killing families who didn’t have time to escape, and shouldn’t have had to run to escape.”

“I cannot imagine the feelings of a mother or father having to watch their child in that situation,” he added.

The event was coordinated by humanitarian organisation ISRA-UK – who have been delivering aid programmes in Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen for several decades – and was supported by the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition, West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain and Jewish group Neturei Karta.

Saraya Hussain, managing director of ISRA-UK, chaired the vigil alongside colleague Habib Mohammed, operational manager of the international NGO. 

“The mood was somber as people came together to remember one thing, the people of Gaza and Israel who have been killed. The death toll in Gaza is over 42,000 now,” said Sayara.

“It is not new as the people of Palestine, specifically Gaza, have endured suffering for decades and normally had incursions that lasted weeks. This time it’s been happening for a full year.

“Tens of thousands of people have been murdered since October last year through military airstrikes on an already densely packed population. Displaced communities have once again become refugees on their own land.

“Access to humanitarian aid has been denied, diseases are spreading and bloodshed continues. We are calling for an end to this, people are awake to it now.

“People from all walks of life came under one banner of humanity. We are desperately calling for a ceasefire.”

The gathering was also being supported by Health Workers 4 Palestine, MEND, Never Forget Gaza, and Birmingham for Palestine.