A RALLY will be held outside the City Chambers on Edinburgh’s High Street on Wednesday March 23, to launch a six-day campaign for Edinburgh to twin with Gaza.

Taking place from 10am to 11.30am, the rally will feature dabke dancing – one of the main dance customs in Palestine – along with short speeches from Council Petitioner Pete Gregson and Palestinian Scottish citizens.

On Tuesday 29 March, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Policy Committee will debate the petition put forward to them from Gregson which initially called for the twinning.

The process of twinning cities aims to promote social and cultural ties between two distinct locales. Campaigners hope that in twinning these two cities, Edinburgh can follow in the footsteps of Dundee and Glasgow, who are twinned with Nablus and Bethlehem respectively.

Gregson said: “This is a great opportunity. If our campaign is successful it will mark a significant step forward in ending the international isolation of Gaza”.

Last year, hundreds of Edinburgh residents marched through the streets in protest of escalating violence in Gaza.

Those who want to learn more about the campaign and upcoming actions can visit the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/twingaza