Since 28 February 2026, the start of the US/Israel War of Choice against Iran, the price of oil and gas is now at:
- Lebanon: killed 1,001, injured 2,584.
- Iran: killed 1,444, injured 18,551.
- US service personnel : killed 13, injured 200.
- Israel: killed 18, injured 3,730.
- Gulf States : killed 79, injured over 281.
*The figures rise by the hour, and were correct at the time of writing.
Gaza : between 7 October 2023 and 11 March 2026, killed 72,135, injured 171,830.
The West Bank : between 7 October 2023 and 15 March 2026, killed 1,071, injured number unknown.
Orkney Islanders Continue to Call for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza.
In Orkney islanders will be meeting in vigil on the Kirk Green, Broad Street, Kirkwall on Saturday 21 March, between 1 and 2pm. They are calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the unhindered delivery of aid. They invite anyone to join them who wishes to see the end of the killing, and the blocking of essential aid supplies getting to the people of Gaza.
All crossings into Gaza except for Kerem Shalom remain closed, despite high-level advocacy to have them opened. Only limited numbers of trucks are entering the Gaza Strip, with the consequent scarcity of goods triggering further increases in prices and leading to shortage in medicines and spare parts needed to maintain essential operations, such as lubricants for generators, and batteries.
Since March 2025, the Israeli authorities have been blocking UNRWA from directly bringing humanitarian personnel and aid into the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, pre-positioned outside Gaza, UNRWA has enough food parcels, flour, and shelter supplies for hundreds of thousands of people. UNRWA Situation Report 213,
Oil and Gas
In addition to the Gaza Genocide and the increasing killings in the illegal occupation of The West Bank by Israeli settlers, of great concern to many people and governments, is the ramping up of the price of oil and gas since the US/Israel War of Choice launched its attacks on Iran. The inevitable retaliation by Iran and its partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most countries has seen the prices on the oil/gas market and at the pumps rocket up.
Brent Crude Oil
The RAC is tracking how pump prices in the UK are being affected by the conflict in the Middle East that began on 28 February 2026. The following chart shows for average prices are changing:
All of this, in a war started by the US and Israel, and without an end in sight, is pushing up prices on thousands of different products – everything from fertiliser to plastics.
And millions of people have had to flee their homes and communities, as civilian buildings are targeted by Israel. More than 1million people in Lebanon alone have had to leave their homes to seek safety.
In the first act of the war the US killed over 170 in a targeted strike, mostly young girls, who were at school.
O little light in me, don’t die,
even if all the galaxies of the world
close in.
O little light in me, say:
Enter my heart in peace.
All of you, come in!From Not Just Passing
By Hiba Abu Nada
Translated by Huda Fakhreddine
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations said:
“It’s time for the force of the law to prevail over the law of the force. It’s time for diplomacy to prevail over war.”
Reports from the Front Line.
In Orkney people will be able to hear from Brendan Stephens about what he witnessed in the ethnic cleansing taking place in The West Bank, as Israel continues its relentless pursuit to bulldoze Palestinians from their homes, farms and villages. See the poster below for details:
The Orkney News has documented the Peace Vigils since they started at the end of October 2023. Filmed interviews of those attending can be watched on YouTube. Here is the latest:
Fiona Grahame
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