Dear Editor,
Paul Glendell writes from Aberdeen about your coverage of the Ceasefire Now Coalition protest held on Saturday, March 22.
He asks “are the hostages still being held by a proscribed terrorist organisation, namely Hamas, ever shown support at these rallies? And does anyone ever speak up against the actions of of Hamas?”
It’s easy to answer these questions, and perhaps if Paul lived in Stroud or read previous coverage in the Stroud Times he would know the answers. But, for the sake of clarity we will reply.
Firstly, there was a placard reading ‘free the hostages’ at the event Paul is writing about – and indeed this was visible in several of the photographs of the protest Stroud Times published.
The speeches at the protest included a reading of the Ceasefire Coalition’s demands. These have always included a demand for release of the hostages.
In August 2024, we issued a second open letter to make our collective position clear and invite others to build pressure on anyone in a position of influence localy. This included a demand for the UK government to back “the Arrest Warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli and Hamas leaders“.
At one vigil, James Beecher read from a letter written to then MP Siobhan Baillie by a group of local Jewish residents in October 2023, which quoted comments from survivors and family members of the victims of the Hamas massacre.
Yaakov Argamani, whose daughter Noa was taken hostage on October 7th and was held until June 2024 said:
“Let’s be honest: In Gaza, too, there are families who are mourning their children. There are fathers who are worried for their sons there too. People have died there too. What will killing more people do for us? They are in pain too, just like us.”
Now, as then, many freed hostages or the families of hostages still in captivity, released, or who have died are calling for a ceasefire.
On the same day as our protest in Stroud, more than 100,000 people turned out at protests in Israeli cities, some surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in Jerusalem, others blocking highways.
Einav Tsangauker, whose son Matan is still being held by Hamas in Gaza, spoke to the crowd saying that Netanyahu chose to strengthen his political future by “sacrificing” the remaining hostages and restarting the war.
“This is a real alarm,” she said, encouraging protesters to keep showing up every day until a new deal is signed. “You are our chance to get the hostages out of the hell in Gaza.”
Among those protesting in Israel, some held a vigil for children killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, holding photos of them in the crowd along with memorial candles. Others carried signs that said “Stop the Genocide”.
Paul Glendell says “Reports in several media outlets today show protests in Gaza calling for Hamas to disband” and this is true. He does not reflect the perspectives of any of the Palestinians attending these protests, however. Here is one, quoted in +972 magazine, responding to people like Paul who imply that “the risk those people are putting themselves at could result in their death and not at the hands of the Israeli army.”
Munir Baraka, a 45-year-old from Deir Al-Balah, criticizes the cynical support for the protests from the Israeli media and politicians. “We don’t care what they say, nor that they are encouraging us to demonstrate. We are against the occupation and [Israel’s] war. We are calling for a change in Hamas’ rule, as is our right — just as the Israelis are calling for the overthrow of Netanyahu’s government”.
Frankly, the suggestion that people pushing for a ceasefire, whether in Stroud, Palestine, or Israel, including Jewish people and indeed the families of hostages themselves – are supporters of terrorism or are uninterested in the plight of the hostages – is insulting and offensive. The implication that only the lives of the Israeli hostages matter, and that those of hundreds of Palestinians detained without charge or killed by Israel are of no concern, is ugly.
We hope Paul’s questions are answered, and that more Stroud residents will better understand our perspective and join us in calling for a permanent ceasefire, and a just peace. We hold a vigil every Friday from 6pm – 6.15pm on the Sub Rooms forecourt, and the member groups of the coalition organise regular events in which people can learn more and engage in the global movement for peace, justice, and liberation.
Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition
(Member organisations: Community Solidarity Stroud District, Na’amod Gloucestershire, Nailsworth Quakers, Palestine Solidarity Campaign Stroud District, Parents for Future Stroud, The RYSE, Stroud Against Racism, Stroud District Together with Refugees, Stroud Parents & Makers for Palestine, The Stroud Red Band, and Stroud Quakers)
