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 10 years since the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara
Today marks 10 years since the Israeli military attacked a six-boat flotilla of human rights activists bound for Gaza in international waters. Israeli commandos murdered 9 people on the Mavi Marmara. A 10th victim died of his injuries four years later. Most were shot either in the back or in the head. Israeli security beat up members of the other boats.
This video of David Rovics' song about the attack sums up this crime against humanity very powerfully: David Rovics: All Aboard the Mavi Marmara.
Yesterday's webinar with Norman Finkelstein, Iara Lee and Mavi Marmara shipmates/survivors:10 year anniversary of Israeli Attack on the Mavi Marmara.
UK Government petition: Call for an immediate end to the Israeli blockade on the people of Gaza
COVID-19 is uniquely threatening to the people of Gaza. The 1.8 million Palestinians cannot safely self-isolate - there simply isn't space - and no one can leave the region. UK government petition.
 Getting the word out during the lockdown!
After our Facebook Challenge (mentioned in the Hastings Online Times), we've been busy with social media. Our 'guerilla banner actions' have received a lot of interest on Facebook and our new Twitter account.
The photo on the right taken on a very deserted Hastings beach. Please send in any suggestions you come up with so that we can 'get the word out.'
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Local government pension funds invest over £2 billion in companies complicit in Israel's war crimes.
Research carried out by the PSC reveals investments in arms companies that supply the Israeli military with weapons and technology, including in Elbit Systems, Israel's largest private arms manufacturer. The East Sussex Pension Fund has shares worth £25,000 in Elbit. Also, £116,000 in Bank Hapoalim, £84,000 in the Israel Discount Bank, £171,000 in the Paz Oil Company, £58,000 in Bezeq, the Israel Telecommunication company - all listed on the UN Human Rights Office's blacklist of companies involved in Israel's illegal settlements:
Local Government Pension Scheme Complicit Investments. British municipalities invest billions in Israeli occupation. It looks like we've got a campaign on our hands!
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We can't breathe until we're free! Palestinians stand in solidarity with Black Americans
"The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the largest coalition in Palestinian society that leads the global BDS movement, stands resolutely in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters across the US who are calling for justice in the wake of the latest wave of insufferable police murders of Black Americans, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, Tony McDade in Tallahassee, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville." We can't breathe until we're free!
From 2018: Be Very Afraid: Israeli Forces Are Training American Police.
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Online Nakba Rally 2020
Webinar commemorating 72 years of the ongoing Nakba. 25,000 joined in, with a total of 52,000 views. Speakers included Ghada Karmi, Ken Loach, Janna Jihad from Nabi Saleh, William Shoki of the BDS Coalition of South Africa, Diana Buttu, Chief Mandla Mandela, Roger Waters and Omar Barghouti of the BDS. Organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK, Jewish Voice for Peace, BDS National Committee and the South African BDS Coalition. Nakba Rally 2020.
The full performance from Palestinian hip-hop group DAM: Facebook video.
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 Daughters of Jerusalem
Edward Said National Conservatory of Music presents 'Daughters of Jerusalem' performing 'Do Not Leave Your Country.'
Recorded May 2020 during the lockdown of the corona virus, using mobile phones.
Video: Do Not Leave Your Country.
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 Urge Raheem Sterling Not to Sign With Puma
Puma has offered a record-breaking sponsorship deal of more than 100 million euros to Raheem Sterling. The international boycott of Puma has taken off after more than 200 Palestinian teams called for the company to end its support for Israel's military occupation by terminating its sponsorship deal with the Israel Football Association (IFA).
This is a letter to thank Raheem Sterling for his stand against racism and urge him not to accept Puma's dirty money: Urge Raheem Sterling Not to Sign With Puma.
The Speed Sisters take up the boycott of Puma The Speed Sisters have written to the W Series Women's Race Series calling on them to drop Puma until it ends support for Israeli apartheid. "No matter which direction we drive in the occupied Palestinian territory, we run up against Israel's military road blocks, ...wall, and segregated Israeli-only roads and settlements." Urge the W Series drivers to drop Puma.
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George Galloway on Palestine
George is well known for his support for Palestine. This talk is as comprehensive as it can be - what is Zionism?; Is Israel a racist endeavour?; Christian Zionists; Jews who are not Zionists; most Zionists are not Jews; the Nakba; the British-created problem; colonialism; Gaza; apartheid; BDS; how to deal with online trolls; twinning..............
The PSC always supports anyone within any political party that backs the Palestinian cause. But as we're not attached to any political party we don't usually affirm the work of any party. But we're posting this as it's particularly all-embracing. George Galloway with the Workers Party of Britain:
Video: Palestine - Where we stand.
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 Electronic Intifada
The Electronic Intifada provides a useful resource for information and news about Palestine, and the involvement of the UK and US in the occupation. The Electronic Intifada publishes every month a range of photos from Palestine, a fascinating insight into life under occupation. The image on the left is of the Palestinian clown Alaa Miqdad and his daughter entertaining children over a live broadcast on Facebook amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gaza City.
Palestine in Pictures: April 2020.
A selection of recent articles: Israel fires on Gaza fishers 100 times amid pandemic.
Solidarity means insisting on Palestinian right of return. Why Zionism is racism.
New Labour purge against Israel critics.
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 Honour Palestinian health care workers
Initiated by US group American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), they have designated June 1 the online day of action to honour the memory of Razan Al Najjar and show our support for health care workers in Palestine.
"On June 1, 2018, Razan Al Najjar, a 20-year-old woman was shot dead by Israeli soldiers as she and other medics - walking with their hands in the air and dressed in white vests - approached the boundary fence to treat a wounded protester. Razan has become an important symbol of the fearless Palestinian first responders to the lethal force used by Israel against protesters at the Great March of Return." Honour Palestinian health care workers.
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The Virtual Lobby of Parliament
This was attended by 100 parliamentarians including 60 MPs It was joint event with Caabu (Council for Arab British Understanding) and APPG (Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group). 13th May 2020.
Video: PSC Parliamentary Briefing: Responding to illegal Israeli settlements and annexation.
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 News from and about the occupation:
Israeli military sets fire to Palestinian farmlands near Yatta.
A Palestinian Family Was Farming Wheat, Then Soldiers Arrived and They Were Shot.
Israel kills 10,000th Palestinian since 2000, US media largely ignore it.
How many Israelis does it take to arrest one Palestinian mother and daughter? 15 military vehicles full of unspecified number of soldiers.
Even during a pandemic: Soldiers shoot holes in water tanks at Kafr Qadum.
JNF, Do Not Evict the Sumarin Family
The US is faring badly in countering COVID-19 due to decades of defunding healthcare & funding militarization. Now the Senate is poised to boost military funding to Israeli apartheid further, instead of saving lives at home. Congress is poised to pass far-reaching Israeli wish list.
Israel must reconsider its choice of UK ambassador.
63 Jewish people make complaint over charity funding 'activities in contravention of international humanitarian laws.'
Protect Palestinian-American researcher Ubai Aboudi from Israeli military detention.
Robert Cohen: claiming the Board of Deputies is neutral on West Bank annexation should fool no one.
Annexation is not just about stealing land - it's about expelling Palestinians.
I was meant to talk about Palestinian kids at the UN. Israel forced me out.
Pompeo warns ICC of 'consequences' if it probes Israeli war crimes.
Boisterous Nakba Day car rally rolls through Minneapolis suburb.
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BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) news:
Zionist group fails to have GW BDS supporting professor fired.
Student Federation of the Austral University of Chile (FEUACh) has declared itself as an apartheid-free space.
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 Hastings and Rye PSC online membership and donations
Becoming a member of Hastings and Rye PSC is an important way of supporting our work.The annual subscription is £10 waged, £5 unwaged. We now have an online membership payment form. It can also be used to renew membership. The work of Hastings & Rye Palestine Solidarity could not continue without the generous donations from members of the public. If you would like to support our work without becoming a member please visit our shop page here and see the right hand column: Donate to Hastings & Rye PSC.
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Recent Hastings and Rye PSC newsletters:
14 May 2020
12 May 2020
4 May 2020
Keep up to date with our website, Facebook and Twitter pages:
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