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Photos: David Hoffmann and Jack Western
At midday yesterday, approximately 30 students assembled at the University library bridge in a demonstration against the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The peaceful protest was prepared last week as an urgent response to the air attacks on Gaza, dubbed ‘Operation Pillars of Defence’, which have reportedly killed over 90 Palestinians so far.
The group joined protests taking place across the country this week. The newly formed University of York Palestinian Solidarity Society organised the rally after holding an emergency meeting on Friday. They deciding to take immediate action with a protest involving slogan chanting, placard waving and a petition for passing observers to sign, calling an end to the violence.
Key organiser of the event, Josiah Mortimer, told Vision that he was “angry that a nuclear state backed by the US is waging war, when it is only 35km bigger than York and so densely populated. The landmass is so dense and we are hearing horrific stories of families dying.”
Another demonstrator, Nathaniel Holman, went so far as to say it “reminded [him] of the South African Apartheid.”
Chair of the University Of York Green Party, Lisa Camps, expressed anger at the media coverage of the attacks:“I’m most angry with the way the media portray Israel and Palestine to be equal powers, when in fact Palestine is a fraction of the size and Israel is a nuclear state. Yet Israel still portray themselves as the victims.”
Secretary for York’s Student Socialist Society, Tarasov Nikita, explained to Vision: “Our protest was more about raising awareness on a local, University level. The petition was the most important part of today. It is not just protesting that is important, but also speaking to passers-by about the situation in Gaza.”
Mortimer has asserted that the demonstration was a “real show of solidarity from students and was a great success. The anger people felt was clear and we sent a very strong message. There will be many more actions to come from us.”
The University of York Palestinian Solidarity Society are not yet ratified by YUSU, and will seek to be ratified this week.