A pro-Palestine demonstration in Edinburgh drew thousands of people ahead of the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel. The event was organized by Scottish Friends of Palestine and the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee, with a silent march held to remember all civilians who lost their lives.
Organizers of the demonstration called for a ceasefire and urged the UK and Scottish governments to impose sanctions on Israel. This call came after an Oxfam report revealed that 11,000 children have been killed in Gaza, marking it as the deadliest conflict in 18 years based on UN data.
During the protest, activists showed their support for the one million people who fled southern Lebanon following an Israeli invasion and air strikes. Gerry Coutts, a teacher from Glasgow and one of the protest organizers, expressed his shock at the high number of families participating in the demonstration compared to previous years.
Coutts highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict on children, with 6,000 women and 11,000 children killed in Gaza by the Israel Defence Force (IDF). He emphasized that Gaza, similar in size to the greater Glasgow area, has seen a staggering number of children orphaned or losing parents due to the violence.
The pattern of military aggression seen in Gaza is now unfolding in Lebanon, where many civilians are Syrian and Palestinian refugees without citizenship. Coutts emphasized the urgent need for international law to be upheld and for a just society for all.
The demonstration also saw a significant turnout of young people, who are increasingly vocal about their support for Palestine. Coutts noted that social media has played a crucial role in shedding light on the conflict, with the livestreaming of atrocities making it impossible to ignore the suffering of innocent civilians.
Maree Shepherd, from Show Israel the Red Card, called for Israel to be suspended from world forums, including world sport, until changes are made. Co-organizer David Myles echoed these sentiments, criticizing political leaders for arming Israel despite accusations of plausible genocide by the International Court of Justice.
The ongoing pro-Palestinian protests show no sign of slowing down, as public demand for justice and peace continues to grow. While protesters call for a ceasefire, governments have been criticized for increasing funding and support for Israel’s military actions. The message is clear: the international community must act decisively to end the violence and support the Palestinian people in their quest for justice and peace.
