Welshpool vigil calls for Gaza ceasefire

Israel’s resumption of bombing Gaza strip over the last week led to a vigil being held in Welshpool calling for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid.

The violence has led to around 1,000 Palestinian deaths, including many children, and has pushed the death toll beyond 50,000 since October 7, 2023 when the latest conflict started following a Hamas attack on several Israeli sites.

Campaigners, who included Welshpool’s Deputy Mayor, David France, who attended in a personal capacity, said that the death toll in the densely-populated territory could increase dramatically as a result of not only of Israel’s ongoing air and ground operations but also its blocking of all humanitarian and commercial supplies to the two million people living there.

According to a report to the United Nations Security Council on Friday by Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said: “At least 600,000 Gazans now lack access to clean water after Israel cut power to a desalination plant.”

She added that “between 12,000 and 14,000 people, including over 4,500 children, require urgent medical evacuation”.

Speaking for the campaigners, John Brooks said: “The situation is alarming and deteriorating rapidly. Israel has renewed its offensive in breach of the January ceasefire agreement and is halting all humanitarian aid in breach of international law. The vigil was organised to call for a resumption of the ceasefire, for people not to buy Israeli products and for Britain to stop selling arms to Israel.”

Campaigners said that Welshpool Banking Hub was chosen as the vigil location to highlight the role of Barclays, which they say holds more than £2 billion in shares and provides £6.1 billion in loans and underwriting to nine companies whose weapons, components and military technology are being used by Israel in its attacks on Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories.