Activists from several Palestine solidarity groups in London, including ISM London, gathered as part of the Open Shuhada Street global day of action. The following is a report by a JFJP activist.
On 25th February, in concert with activists from all over the world, we gathered in London to tell people about the oppression of Palestinians in Hebron.
We joined the supporters of Al Haq who filed a claim for judicial review before the High Court of England and Wales challenging the government of the United Kingdom over its failure to fulfil its obligations under international law with respect to Israel’s activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). We all met outside the Royal Courts in London. The Al Haq supporters had decorated the railings with Palestinian flags and banners saying Free Palestine and End the Siege of Gaza.
We came with leaflets, sandwich boards and posters with pictures of the ghost town that is now Hebron.
People came from far and wide to support our call. A member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams who had worked in Hebron came all the way from Hastings in the South Coast, supporters came from all four corners of London and decked out in their sandwich boards, which said ‘Open Shuhada Street’ and on the back ‘End this brutal occupation’, we leafleted passers by and used the opportunity to tell them exactly what was happening in the prison that is Hebron.
A group of senior citizens were amazed to hear that people could not access their homes, except through their roofs, and took our leaflets to read more.
We were photographed by Arabic television and by freelance photographers. Abe Hayeem from Architects for Peace and Justice in Palestine, was interviewed by one of the Arabic stations and we hope that the pictures and the interview will reach a large audience in the Middle East to show the world that the people of Hebron are not forgotten.
After the protest outside the court ended, we went to leaflet the London School of Economics, where we were well received by all. One of our number is an activist in Kings College London and he took material to circulate to students there. In the evening leaflets were circulated at Essex University.
I find that people usually throw leaflets away but our leaflets were closely scrutinised. The level of awareness of the discrimination and apartheid in Hebron is extremely limited. We hope that our protest opened some minds, even if the street still remains closed.
Open Shuhada Street London