Calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Hamas, have gained international attention. Hong Kong activists from the group HK Anti-war Mobilization recently staged a demonstration calling for ceasefires in both regions. The demonstration coincided with the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The activists called for Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and for Israel to order a ceasefire and end its blockade of Gaza. They held up placards with messages such as 'ceasefire now' and 'Gaza stop the massacre' [0f9ff908].
The demonstration in Hong Kong comes in the wake of a ruling by the International Court of Justice, which stated that Israel's actions in Gaza could potentially amount to genocide. This ruling has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While the activists oppose the indiscriminate abduction and killing of Israelis by Hamas, they believe it does not justify the 'massacre' in Gaza. The activists are urging the international community to put pressure on Israel to end its blockade and allow for a ceasefire [0f9ff908].
The Hong Kong activists' call for ceasefires in both the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts adds to the growing global movement demanding an end to the violence. Activists from various countries, including the United States, have been organizing rallies, protests, and petition drives to raise awareness and put pressure on government officials to take action. Democratic U.S. Representatives from 12 states recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to work towards a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. They expressed concern over the escalating violence and the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza. The representatives also highlighted the plight of hostages held by Hamas, including six American citizens, and called for their release [ffef0988].
In addition to the demonstration in Hong Kong, dozens of protesters gathered in St Helen's Square, York, calling on Western leaders to act and support their calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. The protesters chanted messages in support of Palestinians and emphasized the urgent need for action as threats of an invasion by Israel into the southern city Rafah, where some 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge, intensify. The UN reported that most of the territory’s 2.3 million Palestinians suffer from hunger and that northern Gaza is already experiencing 'full-blown famine' [70263f4e].
Richard Murgatroyd, speaking at the protest in York, urged people to support calls for a ceasefire and emphasized the power of ordinary people to make a difference. Protesters called for York politicians to live up to the city's human rights status and hold the government and members of parliament accountable. Chris Brace, who organized the protest, expressed concern about the loss of humanity among Western leaders. Mark Kesteven, another protester, criticized those with power for doing nothing to prevent the genocide and called for support for students who are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza [70263f4e].
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), one of the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organizations, has also joined the global calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The organization, which has been under pressure from its younger members to advocate for Palestinians, called for a negotiated cease-fire. The league's leaders and some older members were initially hesitant to take a position on the war due to longstanding ties with prominent Jewish civil rights groups. However, the younger members argued that Palestinians were suffering from human rights violations and that the organization had a history of standing up for victims. The league denounced the human rights violations and pointed to the conflict's death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They called for Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement and urged President Biden to advance negotiations. The rift within the league has mostly been along generational lines. The organization did not address the demand to cut ties with Jewish organizations labeled as 'Zionist' [488ae267].
A letter published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch questions why college protesters are not picketing Gaza's diplomats or the Russian embassy if they want peace. The letter highlights the ongoing violence and human rights violations committed by Russia in Ukraine and by Hamas in Israel. It points out that Israel is causing collateral damage to the aggressors in Gaza and questions why the protesters are not directing their efforts towards the actual perpetrators of the conflicts [2b2f3d0a].
The demonstrations and calls for ceasefires highlight the urgency of addressing the devastating impact of these conflicts on civilian populations. Activists are demanding justice, equality, and dignity for all people affected by the violence. They are also calling for the delivery of aid to Gaza and the recognition of Israel's crimes against civilians. The global movement aims to raise awareness about the realities faced by Palestinians and Ukrainians and to promote lasting peace and a two-state solution in the Middle East [0f9ff908].
Around 900 people participated in the 35th weekly Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign march in Cork city, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The rally featured several speakers, including Professor Nick Maynard of Medical Aid for Palestinians and Palestinian journalist Walaa Sabah. Professor Maynard, who recently returned from Gaza, described the situation there as 'apocalyptic' and predicted as many as 260,000 excess deaths in Gaza due to starvation and the destruction of the healthcare system. He also refuted the Israeli claim that Hamas had used hospitals as bases. Ms. Sabah shared a message from a friend in Gaza who was awaiting kidney dialysis treatment that had been severely reduced due to electricity shortages. Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign co-chair Kathy Glavanis criticized media coverage of the Israeli war in Gaza. The rally emphasized the need for sustained protests in Ireland to support Palestinians [788a3391].
A recent survey conducted in Australia found that while Australians support peaceful protests, they strongly reject blockades of politicians' offices over the issue of the war in Gaza. The Resolve Political Monitor survey, which surveyed 1607 eligible voters, found that only 10% of voters believe it is legitimate to block access to a politician's electorate office. However, there is clear majority support for public petitions and a narrow majority of 53% in favor of public rallies when voters are asked about public protests of all kinds. The survey also found that 46% of voters say they are less likely to favor the pro-Palestinian side of the conflict because of the marches and blockades some activists are using to raise awareness. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on all sides to 'turn down the heat' in the domestic debate, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for stronger government action against antisemitism. Greens leader Adam Bandt has accused the government of being 'complicit in genocide' in Gaza, leading Albanese to blame the Greens for encouraging some of the protests at electorate offices [968b63fa].