A FREE Palestine protest took place in Haverfordwest on Sunday (May 30)

It was attended by around 70 Palestine activists, the Pembrokeshire Muslim community and trade unionists, as well as other members of the public.

They say they feel Britain’s arms deals with Israel have contributed to the deaths of Palestinians.

The latest demo, which took place in Castle Square after a short march from Picton Playing Fields follows a number of similar protests held across the world recently, in solidarity with the people of Palestine after renewed violence in the region in the last month.

The event took take place following a cease-fire going into effect on Friday the 21st of May that was brokered by Egypt.

The ceasefire came after an 11-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip considered the worst violence in the region since 2014. The halt to hostilities comes after more than 230 Palestinians — including over 60 children — had been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

One of the organisers told The Herald: “Lets not forget that Gaza is besieged by Israel by land, sea and air on a daily basis. It’s inhabitants the vast majority of whom are refugees are trapped in an area of land just 60 kilometres long and 9.5 kilometres wide, in what many see as an open air prison.

“In a recent report, independent human rights experts have also highlighted the vast asymmetry of of power between Gaza and Israel and called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the attack on civilians and “gross violations of human rights”

“Increasingly people are questioning an occupation by a powerful military state, armed and supported by the West, against an impoverished, stateless and displaced people. For over 70 years, Israel has subjected Palestinians to systematic human rights abuses, severe discrimination, and deadly military force. A fourth generation of Palestinian children are being brought up in refugee camps, in chronic poverty, denied the right to return to their family homes.

“Over a million Palestinians suffer discrimination over access to public services, land and employment. Israel’s siege of Gaza has condemned its 1.9 million inhabitants to poverty and psychological violence.

“The construction of the apartheid wall, the military closure of the Jordan Valley, and the annexation of East Jerusalem are creating an irreversible reality of permanent occupation.”

A spokesperson for the rally on Sunday said: “This was a peaceful socially distanced demonstration to show our solidarity with Palestine and Palestinians.

“Britain is complicit in Israel’s murder of Palestinians.

“Arms deals with Israel are certainly lucrative. Britain has licensed over £400 million in arms sales to Israel since 2015, with the real figure certain to be higher. The equipment includes components for assault rifles, drones and warplanes, all used in attacks on Palestinians.

“Britain doesn’t care. It doesn’t apply any “end use” conditions on the deals, meaning that Israel is free to use the equipment however it likes.

“These weapons of war have been used against Palestinian civilians without mercy.

“The world has risen up in it’s millions to demand an end to Israeli terror.”
The member of the rally went on to describe how statements were made describing the solidarity Jews have with Palestinians.

“A statement was read from the Jewish Voice for Labour that emphasised that millions of Jews stand in solidarity with Palestinians.

“Representatives of the Muslim community in Pembrokeshire called for justice in Palestine and unity between other faiths and those of no faith in that pursuit, with many chants of, ‘free, free Palestine’.”

Police were aware of the event issuing a statement saying: “We were aware of a planned ‘Free Palestine’ protest march in Haverfordwest this Sunday.

“Constructive prior engagement took place between the organisers and the local neighbourhood policing team.”

Six officers attended the protest in a policing capacity, and the protest went ahead without incident.

Matthew Shepherd, Unison Swansea Council Branch said: “I am very moved by all of the speakers who have spoken today. Its very difficult to follow people’s direct experiences of the racism and discrimination and oppression.
“I am very proud that my trade union has a very positive position on Palestine. It opposes the occupation. It has come out in solidarity with the Palestinian movement. The week before last we had a demo in Swansea with 800 to 1000 people attending.

“A very inspiring, militant demonstration. For the last seven years people who have been opposing what is happening in Israel have been called anti-Semitic – we have to reject that.”

“The renewed violence in Gaza has reinvigorated that solidarity movement with Palestine in the UK.”

Mr Shepherd added: “I hope people will go away from this demonstration and think of ways that you can raise the struggle further. We need to think about

The Imam of the Hamad Bin Khalifa Islamic Centre in Milford Haven also spoke at the event, and offered prayers and words of hope and wisdom to the people gathered in Castle Square.

Imam Abdul Haseeb Hussain spoke in Arabic and English, and that people need to stand up to injustice and oppression no matter where it is in the world. He also said that people should stand up against injustice, even if that would not be in their own personal best interests.

He highlighted that there were injustices going on in every corner of the world.