Peace campaigners, horrified by the atrocities taking place in Gaza, have been meeting in vigil on the Kirk Green, Broad Street, Kirkwall since the end of October 2023. Other events have also been held in Orkney, including kite flying in Sanday. Nationally and internationally protests have been taking place.

In response to one event when protestors threw paint on a military jet, the UK Labour Government took the following action in July 2025.

Three dangerous, terrorist groups will be banned under plans announced by the Home Secretary today.

A draft proscription order has been laid in Parliament which will proscribe Palestine Action (PA), as well as two further groups: the Maniacs Murder Cult (MMC) and the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM).  

This will make it a criminal offence to be a member of one of these groups or to invite or recklessly express support for them.

Since then an estimated 2,500 people have been charged with supporting PA. These have included disabled protestors and the elderly. Now labelled as terrorists for holding up cardboard notices.

Eight of those arrested and sent to prison have gone on hunger-strike. Amu Gib who is one of the 8 has been on hunger strike for over 40 days now. Amu is currently in Bronzefield prison in Surrey on remand with terrorism charges. Amu was one of those who threw red paint on an RAF transport plane at Brize Norton.

Orkney and Shetland Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael spoke out against the proscription of P.A. There is an Emergency Motion before the UK House of Commons, EDM (Early Day Motion)2386: tabled on 01 December 2025.

That this House expresses its extreme concern that six prisoners associated with Palestine Action have felt that they had no other recourse to protest against their prison conditions but to launch a hunger strike; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Justice to intervene urgently to ensure their treatment is humane and their human rights are upheld.

As we went to publication, Alistair Carmichael had not signed this Emergency Motion. Activists supporting those on hunger strike are urging people to write to their MPs, MSPs, and councillors to raise this issue with them. More details at the end of this article.

As the Genocide continues in Gaza and violence increases in The West Bank, several countries have announced that they will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest due to the inclusion of Israel. Eurovision is a massive television event and will take place in Vienna in May 2026. So far 5 countries : Ireland, Iceland, Spain, The Netherlands and Slovenia have pulled out over Israel’s Genocide in Gaza. That’s a huge loss of viewers and financial backing for the contest. More could follow. The 2024 winner Nemo is returning his trophy as is the 1993 winner Charlie McGettigan. It was once a contest which celebrated diversity and inclusion.

In this interview Jonathon Fowler UNRWA Senior Communications Manager describes the hellish conditions people are struggling with in Gaza as storms and flooding hits tented shelters.

UNRWA has humanitarian supplies it could bring in but is being prevented from doing so by Israel.

If you wish to write to your MP, MSP, councillor, about those on hunger strike please download the following document.

The Peace campaigners will be on the Kirk Green again today, 13 December between 1 and 2pm, reading out the names of some of the children who have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Local politicians and church leaders have also been invited to take part.

This is a short video of last weekend’s vigil.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Fiona Grahame