Stop the War

Don’t prolong war in Ukraine, peace activists warn Starmer

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/dont-prolong-war-in-ukraine-peace-activists-warn-starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer returns to 10 Downing Street, London, after attending Prime Minister’s Questions at the Houses of Parliament, February 12, 2025

PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been warned off making “ludicrous long-term commitments” that prolong the war in Ukraine ahead of an emergency summit with European leaders today.

The Prime Minister has vowed to “work to ensure we keep America and Europe together” prior to discussing how to respond to US President Donald Trump’s push for an end to the war in Ukraine at the summit called by French president Emmanuel Macron.

The UN estimates 12,456 civilians have been killed during the war that is set to begin its fourth year on February 24.

Sir Keir said: “This is a once-in-a-generation moment for our national security where we engage with the reality of the world today and the threat we face from Russia.

“It’s clear Europe must take on a greater role in Nato as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine’s future and face down the threat we face from Russia.

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A Stop the War spokeswoman said: “Instead of increasing defence spending and making ludicrous long-term commitments to Zelensky, the government should be assisting the peace negotiations and spending our money at home, on restoring the winter fuel allowance, lifting the two-child benefit cap and generally fulfilling its commitments to improve the living standards of the working people of Britain.

“Continuing to push for Ukrainian membership of Nato and pouring money and arms into the country in order to keep an unwinnable war going is utterly reckless and will certainly fail.”

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Original article at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/dont-prolong-war-in-ukraine-peace-activists-warn-starmer

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Over 40 legal experts demand probe into Met’s policing of Palestine demonstration

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/over-40-legal-experts-demand-probe-mets-policing-palestine-demonstration

Police officers at a national march for Palestine in central London, January 18, 2025

OVER 40 legal experts have signed a letter to the Home Secretary demanding an independent investigation into the Met’s policing of London’s pro-Palestine protest at the weekend.

Saturday’s rally was met with a heavy-handed police presence which saw the arrest of 77 protesters — the most at any national demonstration for Palestine.

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Organisers said there were a “series of complex restrictions” preventing people from assembling at Whitehall at various times, which resulted in arrests on “ flimsy pretexts including simply for inadvertently standing in this central area at the wrong time.”

The Met claims that protesters broke through police lines in a co-ordinated effort to breach the conditions.

But protest organisers backed by video footage contest this, stating that a small delegation, including an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, who were seeking permission to lay flowers, were invited through.

Among those arrested was Stop the War’s Chris Nineham, chief steward of the protest, who has since been banned from attending demonstrations as part of his bail conditions.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign which helped organise the protest, was also subsequently charged with offences under the Public Order Act.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/over-40-legal-experts-demand-probe-mets-policing-palestine-demonstration

Continue ReadingOver 40 legal experts demand probe into Met’s policing of Palestine demonstration

Netanyahu accused of trying to drag wider world into Israel’s murderous wars

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/netanyahu-accused-of-trying-to-drag-wider-world-into-israels-murderous-wars

Palestinian supporters protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Times Square during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 26, 2024, in New York

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU was accused today of trying to drag Britain and the wider world into Israel’s murderous wars in Lebanon and Gaza.

Large numbers of diplomats from multiple nations walked out as Israel’s prime minister headed to the podium for his speech at the United Nations general assembly meeting in New York.

Mr Netanyahu opened his speech by saying he wanted to “set the record straight” against the “lies” that other nations were telling the meeting of the bloc.

He said that Israel has the right to defend itself from “savage murderers” and claimed that supporting Israel was in the “interest of all of us.”

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A Stop the War spokesperson said: “Netanyahu is trying to drag the wider world, including Britain, into the murderous wars he is waging in Lebanon and Gaza.

“The British government must use all possible pressure to force Israel to stop the killing and agree a ceasefire in both wars.”

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In response to Mr Netanyahu’s speech, Green Party co-leader and Bristol Central MP Carla Denyer said: “No-one is winning while Israel turns down ceasefire proposals, more die in Gaza and Lebanon, and hostages are not released.

“The UK government must revoke all arms licences and use all diplomatic power to bring an end to the killing.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/netanyahu-accused-of-trying-to-drag-wider-world-into-israels-murderous-wars

Continue ReadingNetanyahu accused of trying to drag wider world into Israel’s murderous wars

Campaigners demand Met stop bid to disrupt march for Palestine

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/campaigners-demand-met-stop-bid-to-disrupt-march-for-palestine

People take part in a national demonstration for Gaza from Russell Square to Whitehall in London, June 8, 2024

SCOTLAND YARD has been urged to abandon plans to impose new orders that would seriously disrupt Saturday’s March for Palestine demonstration in London.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), union leaders, MPs, peers and coalition partners expressed concern over the force severely restricting the protest in an open letter today.

The Met was accused of employing tactics “to deter people from attending” the 18th national peaceful demonstration against the Gaza genocide since last October.

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On Monday, the Met was accused of refusing to participate in negotiations in a “transparent and accountable” way with the march’s organisers.

Signatories of PSC’s letter raised concerns over the eleventh-hour announcement that the Met wanted the march delayed by nearly two hours “without explanation or rationale” and its refusal to allow Pall Mall as an assembly point.

They added: “We worry that these kind of delays, and late challenges and conditions to the plans of what are entirely peaceful demonstrations, are forming a pattern.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/campaigners-demand-met-stop-bid-to-disrupt-march-for-palestine

Continue ReadingCampaigners demand Met stop bid to disrupt march for Palestine

‘We will not vote for those who normalise massacres’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/we-will-not-vote-those-who-normalise-massacres

People take part in a national demonstration for Gaza from Russell Square to Whitehall in London, June 8, 2024

Hundreds of thousands protest across Britain demanding end to Gaza bloodshed

OVER the weekend, hundreds of thousands of people flooded Britain’s streets, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and warning political parties to stop arming Israel if they expect support in the upcoming election.

On Saturday, over 150,000 gathered in London for the 15th national march for Palestine.

The march took place as Israel carried out a murderous assault on Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza.

Israeli forces killed at least 274 Palestinians and injured 698 more, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Four Israeli captives were freed during the raid.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ignored the horrific death toll, instead describing the release of the captives as a “huge relief.”

Two days before, an Israeli air strike hit a UN school, murdering 33 people, including nine children.

Speaking at the rally, Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal accused political leaders of having “normalised massacres.”

He said: “Now our political leaders are coming before you asking for your vote. Your answer needs to be clear.

“We will not vote for those who normalise massacres.

“We will not vote for those who greenlight genocide.

“We will not vote for those who collaborate with systems of apartheid.”

He emphasised that justice for Palestinians needs to be forced onto the election agenda like never before.

Lindsey German from Stop the War said the massive demonstration, which stretched along Whitehall, sent “the loudest possible message to our politicians that the public support an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/we-will-not-vote-those-who-normalise-massacres

Continue Reading‘We will not vote for those who normalise massacres’