Campaigners urge Welsh Government and UK to act as death toll surpasses 65,000

PSC CYMRU has renewed its call for an end to what it describes as two years of genocide in Gaza by the Israeli state.

The organisation has condemned both Israel’s actions and what it calls the UK Government’s “complicity” in the ongoing conflict, which it says has left more than 65,000 people dead, including 20,000 children, and 157,000 wounded.

In a statement issued on Monday (Oct 6), PSC Cymru said its message remained clear: “End the genocide, end the occupation and land theft, stop arming Israel, stop starving Gaza, and impose sanctions on Israel now.”

The group said it was echoing conclusions reached by the UN Commission of Inquiry, genocide scholars, human rights lawyers and international organisations, all of whom, it claims, have found that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide.

“Two years of genocide in Gaza must end, and the perpetrators brought to justice,” the statement read. “Those who campaign, march and protest demand an end to genocide, occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. Our message is one of solidarity, love and justice.”

Criticism of UK position

The group also criticised comments made by then–Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who wrote on 9 September that the UK “has not concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” nor that any British-made parts for F-35 jets supplied to Israel had directly led to breaches of international humanitarian law.

Lammy said the government was still considering the implications of a provisional ruling by the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in June 2024 ordered Israel to refrain from acts under the Genocide Convention and prevent and punish public incitement to genocide.

PSC Cymru said anyone who had seen the destruction in Gaza could recognise it as genocide, adding: “What does David Lammy know that genocide scholars, human rights experts, UN experts and Palestinians don’t?”

Support for South Africa’s ICJ case

The group said it supports South Africa’s case at the ICJ accusing Israel of genocide, and pledged to continue working with campaigners across Wales until the violence ends. It also urged the Welsh Government to “uphold the rights of Palestinians” and end Welsh companies’ involvement in the arms trade with Israel.

PSC Cymru recently led a campaign calling for the Senedd to fly the Palestinian flag in solidarity, with its open letter to the Llywydd attracting the backing of more than 60 organisations within 24 hours.

Co-chair Bethan Sayed said: “The Welsh Senedd was the first nation in the UK to vote for a ceasefire, and we continue to call on its members to go further than words and take tangible actions to help end the slaughter of innocent Palestinian men, women and children.”

Divestment and boycott campaigns

Over the last two years, PSC Cymru has been active in supporting pension fund divestment campaigns, with four councils in Wales — Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire and Newport — passing motions to withdraw investments from companies it says are complicit in the oppression of Palestinians.

Local campaigners continue to lobby other councils to follow suit, and PSC Cymru says it expects more to do so.

The group also continues to promote a boycott of Israeli goods, saying this is not “anti-Israel” but a response to a call from Palestinian civil society to apply economic pressure until Israel complies with international law.

PSC Cymru Co-chair David McKnight said: “As we look at the practical actions and campaigns taking place in Wales, we do not lose sight of what our campaign really is — to oppose the continuation of 77 years of Apartheid Israel’s campaign to erase Palestine and its people, with the backing of US imperialism and support from the UK and other Western countries.”

Israeli response

Israel has consistently rejected accusations of genocide, saying its military operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas and freeing hostages taken during the group’s October 2023 attacks. The Israeli government argues it has the right to defend itself against terrorism and says civilian casualties are a tragic consequence of Hamas operating within densely populated areas.

The UK Government has also said it keeps its arms-export policy “under continual review” and requires assurances that weapons are used in compliance with international humanitarian law.