Increased violence and injustice against children and families in Palestine.
2022 was a ‘deadly year for children in Palestine’, according to the human rights group Defence for Children International. Israeli forces and settlers shot and killed 36 Palestinian children with live ammunition in the occupied West Bank. In addition, 17 Palestinian children were killed in the three-day Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip in August. Children are also arrested, held in detention without trial, and face physical and emotional abuse. DCIP estimates an average of 132 Palestinian children were held in Israeli military detention each month in 2022. (More here www.dci-palestine.org/)
2022 also saw the formation of a new right-wing government under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. This government has made it clear that it plans to take more Palestinian land by demolishing houses and by increasing the number of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Some UK parliamentarians have said these policies: “are designed to advance the separate, discriminatory and unequal system“, in other words, create an apartheid state.
Urgent action is needed now to protect children and families against illegal and inhumane practices and policies.
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:
- Demand that Israeli government and military stop the killing of Palestinian children and the systematic prosecution of Palestinian children in military courts. This is inconsistent with the values of our country and is against international law.
- Challenge the Israeli government’s flouting of international law in relation to settlement expansion and discrimination towards Palestinians.
- End trade with those companies which import and sell goods that come from illegal Israeli settlements.
- End UK arms sales to Israel. The weapons and military technology that we sell are used to enforce the illegal occupation of Palestine and contribute to the multiple military attacks that have taken place regularly since 2008.
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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/ Jan 2023
Donations for leaflets most welcome