A new Palestine Solidarity Campaign Group in Rye had its first meeting at the end of September. It’s hoping to build on local links with a community in Gaza.
Earlier in the year the Hastings and District Palestine Solidarity Campaign (HDPSC) initiated an information stall in Rye in July, held on the last Friday of the month.
The stall is positioned at the top end of Conduit Hill between 2pm and 4pm and has attracted considerable interest and support from passers-by for the past three months. It offers a variety of leaflets with information on events and activities supporting justice and freedom for Palestinians, plus books, badges and keffiyeh scarves for sale, as well as an opportunity to donate.
All donations go directly to the Al Mawasi community in Gaza where Palestinians displaced by the war have been seeking humanitarian relief. HDPSC has had a friendship link with the Al Mawasi community for many years, which was recently officially recognised by Hastings Borough Council.
A Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign group, as part of HDPSC, was initiated in September and had its first informal meeting on September 29. The group will be meeting regularly once a month on the second Tuesday of each month at 2 pm at the Grounded Café at 7 Lion Street. The next meeting will be on November 11. Anyone who is interested in contributing to this work and perhaps joining as a member is welcome.
The UK government recently recognised the state of Palestine along with France, Australia, Canada and join more than 150 other members of the United Nations who have formally treated Palestine as a sovereign nation for many years. A Palestinian Embassy was established in London on September 22.
The ceasefire that came into effect on October 10 has been welcomed worldwide. However, a challenging process now lies ahead to achieve lasting peace in the region and to enable Palestinians fulfil their right to self-determination within an independent Palestinian state.
Local groups like the Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign Group still have a lot of work to do to keep the momentum going, raising public awareness at every level and continuing to put pressure on our government to do all in its power to ensure that the objectives of the peace process are achieved.
For more information on the work of the Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign Group contact Tomris Atabay at t.atabay@btinternet.com.
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Image Credits: Graham Ellis .