Campaigners staged a silent candlelit vigil outside the office of Stroud MP, Siobhan Baillie on Friday evening, calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Organised by four groups – Community Solidarity Stroud District, Stroud Against Racism, Stroud District Together with Refugees, and Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Stroud) – campaigners called for: an immediate ceasefire on all sides; captives to be released; an end to the blockade of Gaza preventing civilians receiving food, fuel and water, and a process for real and lasting peace for Palestinian and Israeli citizens.
Life-long peace campaigner and former Stroud Mayor, John Marjoram was in attendance, along with Labour parliamentary candidate Dr Simon Opher.
“We’re calling for the Government to support a ceasefire, and all political parties in the UK to support that call – it’s as simple as that,” said Jagdish Patel, one of the organisers of the vigil.
Pictures by Matt Bigwood
