Statement on violence in Palestine and Israel

The tragic situation in Palestine and Israel is only the latest of its kind where hundreds of innocent civilians, many of them children, are being killed by Israeli attacks, whilst the world’s leaders stand by.

We have over 30 communities and organisations linked through friendship or twinning with towns, villages and institutions in Palestine. We stand with our friends across Palestine and are all thinking of them at this dreadful time.

Many of our groups are working with their friends and partners in Palestine by sending funds and messages of support. Groups are also campaigning for justice and an end to the violence, and the culture of impunity that enables it, here in the UK.

The Britain Palestine Friendship and Twinning Network has been supporting groups with this work and has been in touch with our Palestinian patrons, Hanan AlHroub and Ahmed Masoud, and our good friend Dr. Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK.

We know, however, that there cannot be a lasting peace until the terrible injustices which currently exist are addressed. Recent reports have assessed the Israeli regime as operating an apartheid system and, from our contact with communities there, we have to agree.

We call on the Government to address these inequalities in the international arena and to bring to bear its own diplomatic and other resources to bring an end to the current violence, a cycle of violence which will not end until the underlying human rights abuses in historic Palestine are addressed.

To send a message of friendship and solidarity to the people of Palestine please click here.