Labour – stop attacking those who were right about Gaza
JVL Introduction
Chris Nineham (from Stop the War) and Ben Jamal (until recently Director of UK’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign) write here of the many ways in which expressions of support for justice for Palestinians have been – and is still being – repressed. All too often claiming antisemitism, despite virtually no evidence of this; indeed Jewish participants on the marches have sometimes complained of abuse from counter protesters who unquestioningly support Israel, complaints that have been met with sympathy from the police for their experiencing antisemitism from the marchers!
Andy Burnham has clearly stated that Labour got it wrong on Gaza (at the beginning) but has made no commitment to change any of the draconian measures introduced under his predecessor. Without reinstating our rights to protest and to express our solidarity with the people of Palestine, his words will be meaningless.
The next major mobilisation will be on October 10th as part of the International Day of Action.
This article was originally published by Stop The War Coalition on Wed 22 Jul 2026. Read the original here.
Yes, Labour got it wrong on Gaza. Now it must stop attacking those who got it right
There’s been a disturbing escalation of attacks on the right to peaceful protest. If Labour is truly sorry, it must reverse them
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The government are out of step with opinion in the country. I wear a Free Palestine badge, not as virtue signalling but as a way of normalising a view that has been absurdly demonised (I am a respectable-looking older woman…) and it is astonishing how many people, in shops, on the street, at the gym, tell me that they support the Palestinians. Why are they clinging to a pro-Zionist position that will gain them no votes? Just to appease their donors?
What can ever be expected from Burnham when he refers to the Gaza Genocide as an “Israeli military action”?