With the fundamental rights of Palestinian people under unprecedented attack, we call for freedom, justice and equality for our Palestinian sisters and brothers.

Ever since the 1948 Nakba – which saw over 750,000 Palestinians forcibly expelled from their homes – the people of Palestine have endured continued discrimination, dispossession and violence at the hands of the Israeli state.

The Palestinian people face unprecedented attacks on their collective rights. Israel has enshrined a system of apartheid in its constitution through the passing of a racist “Nation State Law”, whilst continuing to rapidly expand illegal settlements and maintain its crippling siege on the Gaza strip – a territory set to become uninhabitable by 2022, according to the United Nations.

On top of this, since the start of the Great Return March protests in March 2018, Israel has injured over 29,000 and killed over 200 unarmed protesters, including children, journalists and medics, and they are currently launching massive attacks by planes and tanks against Gazan Palestinians.

I am very proud that Watford PSC, with numerous UK trade unions, is affiliated to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and works closely with the organisation to build a mass movement committed to ending Israel’s occupation and to upholding international law and human rights.

On May 11, 2019, PSC and others have called a National Demonstration for Palestine to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people who live under occupation and apartheid every day, and to call for Israel to be held to account for its crimes. Most major trade unions, including Unite, are supporting this crucial demo and calling on their members to take to the streets for Palestine.

Watford PSC members and supporters will assemble at Watford Junction Station and Croxley Station at 11 am on Saturday, May 11, to travel to assemble at Portland Place (BBC HQ) at 12 noon and then march in solidarity with the Palestinian people to Whitehall for a rally.

The UK cannot stand by while rights and freedoms of our sisters and brothers in other countries are systematically denied. Wherever injustice manifests, we must raise our collective voices in calling for freedom, justice and equality for all. Join us in standing with Palestine on May 11.

Anyone wanting to understand more about this situation should attend a public talk being given by Dr David Toorawa – a member of the Westminster Justice and Peace Commission – from 7.30 pm on Tuesday, May 14 at the Holyrood Centre, Exchange Road, Watford, on the topic of “THE HOLY LAND – WHOSE LAND IS IT? Israel or Palestine? Origins of the conflict.”

John Dowdle

Acting Secretary

Watford PSC