It has now been 100 days since the bombing and violence started in Gaza and on this Global Day of Action for Gaza we stood again on the steps of the St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney. The death toll now stands at around 24,000 dead, about 10,000 of them children and over 60,000 injured.
“We’re here because we think it is just so, so important that we stand and kind of in solidarity with the people in Gaza. It’s kind of beyond words how bad it is there and there’s not much to say beyond we’re thinking of you.”
You see people smile as they tell you how they feel, but this is not the smile of joy. Instead it’s the smile of shy people so angry at what is happening that against all their instincts they will stand in public and say this is enough. To let the people of Gaza know that despite the actions of our own government we are in solidarity with you, we are thinking of you and wish with all our hearts this affront to civilisation will stop.
“Palestinians are dying of bombs, dying of starvation, dying of disease. And when’s that going to end? When’s it going to end?”
Our friend Susie Shearer has painted a picture of our little vigil and it’s passed round for everybody leave a message and sign so it can be sent to Gaza. It will probably have to be sent electronically but at least it shows them they friends on the other side of the world.
It’s so good to hear back from Gaza that our vigil gives them strength and hope for their future but this time we got a video from Dr Salim in Palestine. We also got some rather worrying photos of what the streets of Gaza are like.
Finally, at two o’clock Nadia thanked us all and we dispersed, thankful that we can go home to somewhere warm and safe but the people in Gaza can’t.
There will be a vigil on the steps of St Magnus Cathedral on Saturday 20th January between 1 and 2 pm.
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