Stroud Against Racism Statement on Gaza

Stroud Against Racism calls for an immediate stop to the intensifying war on Gaza, and the escalating loss of civilian life. While we welcome the current pause in the siege on Gaza, we call for the establishment of a permanent ceasefire and for our elected representatives to demand de-escalation and a strategy for stability in the region based on adherence to international law and human rights.

According to the UN, in Gaza, more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, including over 3000 women. At least 6,000 children have died (as of 20 November), and at least 8663 have sustained injuries in Gaza since October. In addition, about 3,250 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 1,700 children, have been reported missing and are presumed to be trapped or dead under the rubble, awaiting rescue or recovery. During the same period, Israeli forces or settlers have killed 51 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank.

So far, the number of injured Palestinians exceeds 30,000.

In the Occupied West Bank, nearly 200 Palestinians, have been killed, including more than 50 children and 2400 injured due to settler-colonialist violence.

We are also dismayed at the Israeli’s, including Israeli children who remain hostage in Gaza. In Israel, at least 1,200 have been killed, Including 30 children. Among the injured, there are at least 5,600.

Children’s rights are being violated in Gaza and the occupied territories, both before and since October 7th. We demand observance of international laws that protect children in armed conflict, including killing, maiming, attacks on schools and hospitals, abduction of children, and the denial of humanitarian access.

We call for the release of all captives, including all of the 240 Israeli hostages. Despite the release of 150 Palestinians, Israel continues to imprison over 1,000 children, most without trial.

*The figures are reported by the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Israeli Medical Services, and the United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and is subject to changes due to the daily rise in casualties. 

Over 1 million children live in Gaza. Almost half the 2.2 million population of Gaza are children. They are imperilled by Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, as well as Israel’s restrictions on food, water, fuel and other humanitarian assistance. Despite international protests, the Israeli government promises to resume the bombardment and indiscriminate shooting of civilians

One of the fundamentals of international law – at the heart of the Geneva Conventions – is a prohibition on collective punishment: that is, retaliating against the enemy’s civilian population, making them pay the price for the acts of their leaders and armies.

What has occurred in Gaza, is a flagrant violation of this prohibition. Even pre-October 7th, its inhabitants have been denied the most basic freedoms, such as the right to movement; access to proper health care because medicines and equipment cannot be brought in; access to drinkable water; and the use of electricity for much of the day because of Israel’s bombardment of  Gaza’s power station.

SAR believes that what Israel is doing in Gaza is the very definition of collective punishment.

“Carrying out hostilities with the knowledge that they will systematically destroy and damage civilian housing and infrastructure, rendering an entire city – such as Gaza city – uninhabitable for civilians is a war crime,” said the UN Special Rapporteur. The conduct of the Israeli government is a war crime under international law.

We at SAR are aware of the racist implications of the assault on Gaza. The scale of daily atrocities can only be rendered ‘acceptable’ if those whom they are perpetrated against are dehumanised. We stand for the humanity of all people. We unequivocally condemn the rise in anti-semitism, and assert that ‘Never again means never again for all people’.

We must stand against genocide by any and all governments.  We maintain the right to hold the State of Israel accountable to the same standards and adherence to international law as any other nation-state. We stand alongside national and international campaigners, including thousands of Jewish activists for peace. This conduct by the Israeli state plays into the hands of antisemitic,  Islamophobic,  and other racist behaviour. It makes the world less safe for both the Jewish and Arab communities.  Both are being horribly affected by this here and abroad.

It makes the change that Stroud Against Racism stands for; respect, equity and equality for all, harder to achieve. It also makes it harder to campaign for a more equitable, safer and decent Stroud district for all of us regardless of our creed, our ethnicity or our heritage. 

We therefore call for a bilateral permanent ceasefire now.

For a free peaceful two-state solution. 

For the release of all Jewish and Arab hostages.

For an end to the occupation and the removal of Israeli forces from the West Bank and Gaza.

The ending of attacks on Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

And for ceasing of Israeli settlement activity in Arab lands that is illegal under international law.