ACTIVISTS are gathering at a number of demonstrations across Scotland to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The events are being organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) – a group consisting of religious organisations and activists including Scottish Friends of Palestine and the Muslim Community of Scotland.
The demonstrations come against the backdrop of heightened political tensions, with a pro-Palestine march in London on Armistice Day being branded “provocative and disrespectful” by the Prime Minister.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign behind the London demonstration anticipated more than 500,000 people would join its protest to back a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in what it billed as one of the largest political marches in British history.
READ MORE: Kelvingrove Museum shut down as pro-Palestine protest held
Activists will host rallies in:
- Glasgow at the Buchanan Street steps at 1pm
- Edinburgh on Waverly Bridge at 12pm
- Dundee in the city centre at 2pm
- Forres on the high street at 2pm
- Aberdeen at Westburn Park at 2pm
Ahead of the rallies, SPSC chairman Gerry Coutts said: “The focus of our rally will be on people killed in wars, including both world wars, with a renewed call to end all wars.
“We will also call for an end to war crimes, including those currently being committed in occupied Palestine.
“The conflict did not start on October 7. The besieged people of Palestine have endured over seven decades of illegal occupation, violence and loss of land and rights.
READ MORE: Gaza: Why the Scottish Parliament must back a ceasefire
“We are calling for an immediate ceasefire and with it concrete steps from the international community to bring lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
“This can only happen by respecting international law and by bringing an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.”
Wajd Sameer, a Palestinian charity worker in Scotland, said: “The guilt the Western world feels for the atrocities of the Holocaust are being paid for daily by the Palestinians.
“There is no debate that collective punishment and the killing of innocent children and civilians is a war crime and should be counted as such at an international level – as should the crimes committed through decades of oppression and violence the Palestinian people have faced simply for existing.”
READ MORE: Douglas Murray's 'racist' Humza Yousaf comments spark anger
Police Scotland has issued a statement ahead of planned events over the weekend.
Assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie said: “Protests so far have been largely peaceful and groups from all perspectives have maintained good engagement with policing.
“We continue to engage with those organising demonstrations to ensure rights to peaceful assembly and protest are protected while minimising disruption to communities.
“Public safety is our priority and people may see more officers than usual in our cities and towns this weekend.
“Hate crime, violence or abuse do not represent legitimate protest and we will respond professionally to offending.”
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