Day 5 - Evening (5pm - 8pm)

I arrived just after 5pm, finding Br Mez in deep conversation with a pro-palestine supporter and another sister busy listening to another activist. I looked around, a handful of protestors were gathered opposite the embassy, preparing for the daily demo that usually begun at 5.30. Amazing people- they're outside here every evening, unrelenting, and in defiance of the police who have in the past few days told them to ‘stay away’! How dare they!

All in all, my evening went pretty well...kind strangers popped over to have a word or two; one lady, who looked like she just left work for the evening, walked past then came back and looked around at our posters. She came up close to us and said ‘My prayers are with Gaza and with you- I totally support what you are doing’ and then quickly dashed off. Her kind words stayed with me and the other sisters on my shift all night, and her sentiments were shared out loud by many who walked past. I would also like to thank all those who hooted as they drove past - and also all those who have signed up to join the vigil – may you all be rewarded for your prayers, concern and activism. Ameen

Suffice to say, my spirits were high as I clocked off and walked back to the station. We can not let the Zionists think they can continue…we have got to make a stand! Come join the vigil! See you all there soon inshAllah.

Peace,

Taubah

Day 5 - afternoon

A middle age man, whose origins I could not guess, approached me today and handed me £20 for IHRC. He apologised for not being able to attend the vigil.

A little after this, an elderly Caucasian women approach our vigil. She stopped by the candles and bowled her head. Initially intend on approaching her, I changed my mind after realising she was deep in prayer. Seeing this women standing in the middle of Kensington High Street with her head down, eyes closed and deep in prayer touched me deeply, and gave me a renewed sense of hope.

Mez

Day 5 Morning

Sahla joined Kara, who was then replaced by Aaron, during which time it was discovered that both Palestinian flags had dispappeared. A series of smaller paper flags were put up instead, and the night's vigil candles still burning were rearranged to spell 'Gaza'.

More passersby came to support us - the vigil is ever more appreciated. After Sahla left, Aaron was confronted by a Zionist hurling abuse. All vigil attendees have been instructed to report such incidents from now on as there are patterns of hate crime emerging during the different nationwide protests against protestors.

Early morning, day 5, Tuesday 13 January

Kara was awoken from the tent where the night team have been sleeping in shifts, by nearby screams and shouts. On joining his colleague on the pavement he was informed that a group of men associated in one way or another with the neary branch of Starbucks (some 30 feet away) had been raging that "this lot had smashed up Starbucks so lets bomb and get these terrorists" by "terrorists" them pointing out the guys at the vigil.

Night 4

The first part of the night was full, with IHRC's chair, Massoud Shadjareh, veteran activist and journalist Victoria Brittain, a local authority councillor and four others holding fort until the all night team arrived.

As the days pass, more and more people are booking to attend, and everyone is welcome. With no sign of the atrocities waning - 60 raids on Gaza during the night according to the BBC - and with polic ebecoming increasingly more violent at the other demonstrations, this vigil is gaining even more importance.

The night saw taxi drivers come up to the team and express support, as well as an inebriated Zionist who took the opportunity of being the sole other person at 3am on the street to launch into a pro-Israeli rant.

Still the messages and greetings, all forms of support for the vigil are growing. Last night theylit candles and the mood became evn more osmbre in remembrance of the 900+ dead and the thousands injured and maimed.

Day 4

Day 4

Just finished my first shift at the Vigil. Although in the past I have been critical and pessimistic about the benefits of such actions, I know now their importance.

In just four hours, hundreds of passers by were able to read our banners and slogans, “The World Stopped Nazism, The World Stopped Apartheid, The World Must Stop Zionism.” I could see on the faces of many passing by the beginning of a thought process. It is the instigation of these very thoughts, getting people to think about the evils of Zionism, that makes such vigils so important.

In the first half an hour a few van drivers horned and gave me a thumbs up in support. I was particularly touched by one elderly lady who came over to me, gave me a long stare, and said “you are absolutely right.”

I had conversations with Africans, Arabs, Caucasians and others, all united by their humanity.

The cold has subsided.

I look forward to tomorrow's shift. OUSSAMA

A Message from Oslo...

Dear IHRC,

It is wonderful that you have started a vigil outside the Israeli embassy for the people of Gaza. The work you are doing is so important and it is crucial not to loose hope, despite Israel ignoring the international community and the demonstrations by leftist Israelis.

We started our vigil in Oslo on Thursday 8th January in the center of the city. We had candels burning all night and dedicated people sat outside in -6 degrees. We sold candels which are used on graveyards and the proceedings were donated to NORWAC - the organisation which sent Norwegian doctors to Gaza. Can you imagine in just 4 days we managed to gather Kr21000,- which is about British £2000. We also have a metal wire fence with ribbons on it for all those killed the past two weeks. We have about 800 ribbons and passersby helped us put them up.I wish you all the best with the vigil. best regards

Iffit QureshiWriter, speaker and human rights activist in Oslo, Norway