Crowds assembled in Jubilee Gardens London on Saturday afternoon to take part in a sombre vigil – a silent funeral procession – marking the fact that last week the relentless bombing, destruction and murder of Palestinian people had gone on for 500 days (and 77 years).
Israeli prisoners of war speak of decent treatment in captivity, and those that died in Israel’s bombing are placed in coffins and given respect and ritual, but by contrast Palestinian bodies are simply dumped by the Occupying Force in bags outside hospitals. And thousands, perhaps tens of thousands lie under the devastation and rubble left by Israel’s vengeful onslaught on the people of Gaza.
Portrayed by right-wing billionaire-owned media as hateful Hamas supporters, setting the agenda for corporate and state media, police and government to respond, the shocked UK public have come out week after week to protest the war.
Saturday was an opportunity not to protest, but to remember, to honour, and to show humanity.
The police seemed to think otherwise, turning up in large numbers and forcing the procession along the pavement on Westminster Bridge, through droves of bemused tourists, rather than allow them on the road, where traffic was very light on a Saturday afternoon.
A man tolled a bell, one group carried dead bodies aloft on a platform. Behind some coffin-bearers were a group of health workers, journalists wearing body armour, and beyond a huge Palestinian flag, a group of Jewish men and boys (who had walked from Stamford Hill on their Sabbath), walked among Christians, Muslims and those of no religion, all there to show respect, and honour the tens of thousands of named and unnamed dead, the majority of whom are women and children.
The event was organised and supported by a wide range of groups including Palestine Pulse, the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Healthworkers and Allies 4 Palestine, Thanet 4 Palestine, and XR for Palestine.
