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"The demonstration was
excellent," said spokesman Guy Cheverton of Hull Palestine
Solidarity. "We were delighted with the turnout on Saturday.
I was particularly impressed by the number of young people and
families on the march."
Speakers called for an immediate
stop to the bombing and an end to the blockade of Gaza,
which has gone on for many months and reduced many
Palestinians to poverty. A call was made for an end to the
occupation of Gaza where Palestinians are held in virtual
captivity.
As well as Guy Cheverton and Martin
Deane from Hull Palestine Solidarity, speakers included two
Palestinians from Hull, an Israeli woman who spoke powerfully against
what her country was doing, a Hull woman who has taught across
the Middle East, a representative from Hull mosques
and others.
The demonstration marched to the BBC
building at Queens Gardens and proceeded to the Cenotaph
memorial on Ferensway before returning to City Hall.
Demonstrators stopped at certain
points to chant outside business known for links to Israel
such as Starbucks, McDonald's and Marks & Spencers. There is
a national boycott of all Israeli goods going on this year.
Speakers talked further about the
situation in Gaza as well as questioning the bias in
reporting across much of western media.
Since 1948 and Israeli independence,
a great deal of land has been taken from the Palestinians. Land
has been taken, houses destroyed and villages flattened. This
still continues in defiance of international law and in the face
of dozens of UN resolutions.
On Friday (Jan 9th), a free
film, Gaza Strip, will be shown at the Jericho Cafe, 41
Cottingham Road, 7.30pm, as part of the ongoing campaign.
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Guy Cheverton, spokesman, Hull
Palestine Solidarity
07788 608641
Martin Deane, 07812 838701
Hull Palestine Solidarity, Hull
Green Party, Hull Stop the War
BIG - Boycott Israeli Goods campaign
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