Evening 10

As the vigil was wound down for the week subequent to the ceasefire, even more people joined. We were honoured to have Brian Haw, whose vigil outside parliament since the 2nd June 2001, first to protest the sanctions on Iraq at that time and subsequently all the bloody wars of the "war on terror", has inspired activists and supporters of justice the world over.

Evening 9

Four public schoolboys approached us stating that they felt Hamas needed some serious support. Another sign of how the table has turned in the last few weeks.

Women's Vigil, Monday 19 January, outside the BBC

Muslim & Jewish women: Vigil & Speakout against slaughter in Gaza

19 January 2009

Protest the BBC's reporting of the Gaza crisis. All women welcome.

info@ihrc.org (44) 20 8904 4222 www.ihrc.org
uk@ijsn.net (44) 20 7209 4751 www.ijsn.net
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Muslim & Jewish women
Vigil & Speakout against slaughter in Gaza

Monday 19 January 2009, 5.30-7pm
BBC Broadcasting House Portland Place, London W1A 1AA

(near Oxford Circus)

All Women Welcome

We have come together to spell out the truth about Occupied Palestine that the media, beginning with the BBC, refuses to report – about Zionist apartheid, women giving birth at checkpoints, the expulsions, the theft of land and resources, the imprisonment of children, the swimming pools in Zionist settlements filled by siphoning Palestinians’ drinking water. The BBC has not publicly complained that Israel is preventing their reporters from entering Gaza to witness the bombing and invasion firsthand. Neither does it report Jewish opposition to this Zionist slaughter of the innocents.

We are Muslim and Jewish women who are speaking out together against the Israeli slaughter and devastation in Gaza . We, like the whole world, are shocked by what we witness on our television screens, a small part of the horrendous truth. But we are not surprised by this horror. Israel has been driving Palestinians from their homes, killing and maiming women, children and men, bulldozing and bombing their infrastructure, since 1948 when the UN gave them permission to impose a Zionist state on Palestinian land.

No one works harder than the women in Occupied Palestine to keep family, neighbours and friends alive. In Gaza under the stress of shortages of the most basic necessities as a result of the blockade -- endorsed by the EU -- women under bombardment and invasion must watch their babies being killed and maimed. This is the most powerful indictment of Israeli arrogant racist and sexist murder.

We must spell out how, to justify the US/Israeli war against the people of the Middle East, the UK has launched a racist war against Muslims in Britain .

Therefore we Muslim and Jewish women are coming together to hold a vigil and speakout. Women will finally tell their story of what they have to do and undergo to try to preserve life and to resist occupation and genocide.

In every society we women are the carers of the human race. Our work is human survival. Let us exercise this power to help stop Israel ’s war against Palestine .

Evening 7 (Thurs 15 Jan) & Evening 8, Friday 16 January 2008

Day 8....Evening... all in high spirits
I returned to a late evening shift on Friday, having missed Thursday. Last week on Sunday at the same time I was alone, having replaced a lone protestor. I had been joined by one other and then we were relieved by the night shift. Yesterday I arrived to see seven people split into two groups, and on joining them found that another (who had been there since , had just gone off to get a coffee). This group comprised some IHRC regulars but also new people who had joined and were now regulars by word of mouth and just passing by. Been and Selina also joined us after 9pm.

The spirit was amazing, as were the frequent stops by passers-by with suggestions, commendations and messages of support. Whilst some pleasant gentleman called us "Scumbags" as they passed by, the rest of the evening went very positively.

One of those on the team expressed how the vigil made him feel he was doing something proactive and positive, and I think he is right.

On Wednesday morning, Kara and I has been discussing the change in tempretaure, not celsuis, but in society regarding Palestine. We are not helping the Palestinians he said, they are helping us. Their sacrifices have made us brave and have raised our spirits and our dtermination to do what is right.

I hadn't thought about it that way before, but it is true. Whilst talking with Harun who arrived early for night shift, my husband called to say he was watching ac lip of Gerald Kaufman MP in parliament - a lifelong Zionist - describe the actions and words of the Israelis as "Nazi", and the situation of the Gazans as that of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Things have changed, and God willing they will not be the same again. SAHLA.


DAY 7, EVENING - 15TH Jan 2009:

Pictures from earlier on in the day....Mez










Palestinian Sr who has been at the embassy every day since the Zionist war on Gaza.

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Later on the Evening 9pm onwards....

I was standing around at the IHRC vigil in Kensington opposite the Israeli embassy. I was told that there would be a demonstration against Iran outside the Iranian embassy. I was initially hesitant to attend the vigil as I was under the impression that the Zionists would walk towards Israeli embassy in big numbers and they might cause trouble with the attendees at the vigil. But I was assured that IHRC had agreed with the Police that they would be there to stop any intimidation by the Zionists. Around 10pm Sami (another attendee) and I were at the vigil alongside two other supporters of the vigil. We saw a group of around 30 rowdy Zionists from a distance. I looked around and saw no Police in sight-that moment I was really scared.The Zionists now on the opposite side of the street, spotted us and started shouting abuse. They called us 'terrorists', 'fucking Arabs' etc and were also showing their middle finger at us. They were trying to deliberately provoke us and get a reaction. I felt really intimidated and was left shaken- something violent could have easily happened. Luckily none of us reacted and the crowd walked on after approximately 5 mins of abuse. I wonder where the police were....

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful...then Sami got a call from family back in Palestine....his cousin had been killed in Gaza.

It really brought it home for me...its not just pictures and news of another people suffering in another land...its real...its now...it affects everyone around us. MUJAHID

Day 6- Evening

I arrived at the vigil at about 5:30 to find about seven individuals, all in high spirits and enjoying their conversations.


I had the pleasure of meeting the seasoned activist and journalist Victoria Brittain this evening. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with her and was motivated by her determination and patience.



I would like to thank Ash for taking the photographs and emailing them to us and Malika for all her efforts. She was there yesterday from 11am till about 6:30pm.



Thank you also to the young man who bought us a lighter for the candles, the lady who bought us more candles, and all those who donated money!!!



Till next time!



Mez

More photos from the first few days

Day 5- return of the Kara

A tired looking Kara returned to his post at 10pm...may Allah strengthen his faith.ameen.