Peace campaigners in Orkney will be meeting on the Kirk Green, Broad Street today between 1 and 2pm, as they have done since October 2023.

As the threat of world conflict looks ever likely the islanders are urging anyone who wishes to join with them to see an end to the genocide in Gaza, and an immediate ceasefire, to come along to their vigil.

 In an emergency session on Thursday, 12 June, in New York, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. 

Shocking footage of starving people being deliberately shot and killed as they try to collect food from the privately run US/Israeli aid points, has appeared all over social media.

An illegal blockade is still being imposed by Israel to prevent aid getting into Gaza. An attempt to breach the blockade in a small vessel ‘The Madleen’ sailing under a UK flag, was illegally boarded whilst in international waters and 12 people were removed to Israel. The yacht was carrying baby formula.

Emboldened by the support of President Trump, Israel launched an attacked on Iran. – Israeli strikes hit more than 100 targets in Iran including nuclear facilities.

Sumud Convoy and Global March for Gaza

A North African flotilla of vehicles, The Sumud Convoy, whose name means “steadfastness” or “resilience” in Arabic, is carrying aid and being led by the Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine in Tunisia, and has ties to the Global March for Gaza, which includes rights advocates from about 50 countries across the world who were en route to Cairo on Wednesday. They are hoping to break through the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

The UN General Assembly’s resolution, demanding a ceasefire, was backed by  149 Member States, including the UK. 12 voted against and 19 abstained. Among those opposing the resolution were the United States and Israel, who were joined among others by Argentina, Hungary and Paraguay. India, Georgia, Ecuador, Romania and Ethiopia were among the countries abstaining.

Israel knows it has the full backing of the US President in both its attacks on other states, the genocide it is committing in Gaza, and the increasing violence it is perpetrating in The West Bank.

The US President is himself, launching a war on his own people, ignoring The Constitution and the limitations it places on the power of Presidents. Today, millions of Americans will take part in ‘No Kings’ demonstrations whilst Trump stands basking in the spectacle of a North Korean style Military Parade which coincides with his 79th birthday.

June 14th marks 250 years since the formation of the American army in its campaign for Independence against Britain and the ruling monarch of the day, George III. In 1776, American colonists pulled down the gilded equestrian statue of the King in New York. They would have No Kings.

Eighty years ago the world had hopes that never again would we see genocide and a world conflict. What would that exceptional generation who fought for our freedoms and who liberated the Nazi concentration camps think of this world we have today? The UK is complicit in the Gaza Genocide. Not only is the UK Labour Government selling military equipment and aiding Israel with information coming from its spy planes, it is also training soldiers for the Israeli military.

Question, UIN 56822, tabled on 3 June 2025

Rachael Maskell Labour York Central

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the last time was that a member of the Israel Defense Forces was trained by the UK armed forces.

Answer

Luke Pollard Labour Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Answered on

11 June 2025

As part of routine Defence engagement with Israel, the UK is currently training a limited number of Israel Defense Forces personnel on UK-based training courses.

A mentally unstable US President, and the support of the UK Government has emboldened Israel to continue its obliteration of Gaza, of Palestine, and its attacks on neighbouring states.

Images by Mike Robertson from Saturday 7 June vigil’

Those in Orkney who wish to stand for peace and to see an end to the war mongering can join with others in Kirkwall, on the Kirk Green, between 1 and 2pm on Saturday 14 June.

Click on this link to find out more about Gaza Sunbirds

Fiona Grahame