Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Coalition partners have called an emergency demonstration and rally for 1800 today (06/01/25) in Old Palace Yard, opposite Parliament. Thousands of people are expected to attend to demand MPs act to save Gaza’s health workers and services from systematic attack by Israel.
Israel has massively ramped up its attacks on Gaza’s health infrastructure in the last few weeks. It has recently attacked and destroyed Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north of Gaza, including its neonatal unit, and is now besieging and forcing the evacuation of the Indonesian hospital. It has also targeted Palestinian healthcare workers – killing scores, imprisoning hundreds including Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan, prompting an international outcry from medical professionals. Detained Palestinian healthcare workers are kept in inhumane conditions, and many have been tortured.
The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel’s actions are a plausible case of genocide. Hospitals are especially protected under international humanitarian law and the attacks on Gaza’s healthcare are likely to constitute war crimes. However, the UK continues to supply arms to Israel and provide political, diplomatic, and economic support.
The rally tonight will be addressed by MPs Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and figures from across civil society and healthcare workers.
PSC Director Ben Jamal said,
“Israel has been given impunity by the UK government to commit war crime after war crime over the last 15 months. We hoped this barbarity and the government’s support for it had a limit, a red line which could not be crossed, but we have not seen it yet. To attack and destroy hospitals, to target and kill medical staff and patients within them, has no possible justification and is completely unacceptable. These are crimes for which Israel will have to answer in world courts, but the UK government must also face its own reckoning for shamefully aiding and abetting Israel’s carnage.”