Thursday, 19 October 2023

Vigil for Peace in Gaza


A vigil with candles and placards will be held on Saturday from 4 pm to 6 pm by Cambrian Quay Cardigan near the Otter to grieve for those affected by the recent conflict in Gaza, to allow our community to symbolically come together and peacefully take a moment in time to collectively grieve for all civilians that have died in Israel and in Gaza, and to hope for a peaceful resolution as soon as possible. 
Stressing that the violence in Israel which caused civilian casualties is not excusable, while acknowledging that this happened in the context of the decades-long oppression of Palestinians.
It is difficult to comprehend the horror to which so many civilians have been subjected to in recent days, and I fear for the fate of those caught up in the conflict. I am also concerned about the impact that the situation is having on those of Israeli and Palestinian heritage living in Wales. 
We must  condemn the attacks by Hamas. The taking of innocent lives, and the barbarity with which civilians have been treated can never be justified, and support calls for the international community to intervene so as to impose a ceasefire so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza and for the hostages held by Hamas to be released. 
Ordinary Palestinians have been let down by the international community and have suffered years of violence and injustice. Collective punishment of innocent civilians cannot be justified and will do nothing to bring about peace in the region.
More than 1 million Palestinians have been displaced, and the Israeli military under Netanyahu's extreme party continues to bomb and starve millions of people trapped in Gaza. So many deaths and so much violence with no clear end.  We must demand a ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine. We cannot be complicit in this violence. 
But our government’s leaders continue to dehumanize Palestinians and encourage the Israeli military’s relentless bombing of Gaza. We must do everything we can to bring all families home safely, and to protect everyone in the region no matter their faiths or ethnicities.
As Israel’s brutal assault on besieged the Gaza Strip continues, our political leaders are enabling its war crimes. We must put pressure on all politicians to speak out, it is clear that a ceasefire and an end to the siege in Gaza is the only way to guarantee that there is no further loss of civilian lives and that aid reaches those who need it. All are welcome. Heddwch/ Peace.

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