logo
Pro-Palestine protesters chant ‘RAF shame on you' at air base demonstration

Pro-Palestine protesters chant ‘RAF shame on you' at air base demonstration

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered along the barbed wire fence of RAF High Wycombe on Saturday afternoon at the protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Protesters held banners that said 'end British military collaboration with Israel' and '61,000+ killed, 600 RAF spy flights'.
There were chants of 'RAF you work for us, Israel is not your boss', 'RAF shame, shame – killing children in your name' and 'RAF blood on your hands'.
A large Palestine flag was erected in front of a replica Second World War Hurricane fighter plane outside the entrance to the air base, with organisers bussing in protesters from High Wycombe railway station.
The demonstrators assembled outside the air base held a large red banner as they chanted 'we are the red line, UK for Palestine', with protesters banging pots and drumming throughout the protest.
Speaking at the demonstration, Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, said: 'The RAF is not just a bystander, it is a partner in collective punishment.
'It is a partner in ethnic cleansing and the most important thing is it is a partner in the genocide against the people in Gaza.
'Every war plane that reaches Israel with British parts or British support makes this country complicit in the killing of children.'
Addressing the crowds, activist Andrew Feinstein said: 'For the last 22 months, there are more RAF spy planes flying over Gaza than there have been Israeli Air Force spy planes.
'That information then gets relayed to the IDF to inform what they call their targeting decisions, but we know that their targeting is totally indiscriminate.
'So, the people who sit in these buildings are the ones guiding the IDF around Gaza. That is active participation in a genocide.
'The people sitting in these buildings should sit for the rest of their lives in The Hague in prison for their participation in genocide.'
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: 'On 16th August, as part of our summer of action for Gaza, we will be surrounding RAF High Wycombe, drawing on the legacy of protest at air bases like Greenham Common, and showing the strength of the public demand for an arms embargo.'
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: 'We are aware of a protest being planned to take place in High Wycombe today.
'We will work with the organisers, partners and the public to facilitate peaceful protest, balancing the rights of all and to keep our communities safe.'
RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire houses Headquarters Air Command and was originally designed to house RAF Bomber Command in the late 1930s.
The station is also the headquarters of the European Air Group and the UK Space Command.
Last weekend in central London, 15,000 people demonstrated peacefully in support of the Palestinian cause with only one arrest, the Metropolitan Police said, adding that 522 were arrested 'for an illegal show of support for Palestine Action on the same day'.
The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that a further 60 people will be prosecuted for 'showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action'.
The force said this follows the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on July 5, including 522 in central London last Saturday.
More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said.
Last week, the Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences against section 13 of the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action.
Palestine Action was proscribed by the UK Government in July, with the ban meaning that membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hollywood star Julie Delpy: ‘I made enemies by saying no to very powerful men'
Hollywood star Julie Delpy: ‘I made enemies by saying no to very powerful men'

Telegraph

time28 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Hollywood star Julie Delpy: ‘I made enemies by saying no to very powerful men'

A soberly dressed British prime minister welcomes the French president on the steps of Downing Street. The leader from across the Channel puts her counterpart in the shade: she's blonde, glamorous, with intense red lipstick and elegant gold earrings. Soon, she is offering ­subtly cutting advice to her opposite number about the tense way the PM holds her face in the presence of photographers. Their relationship is already strained: in a hot-mic incident, the prime minister has described president Toussaint as a 'handmaiden to the far-Right'. These are the opening moments of Netflix's Hostage, a political thriller in which the two women become entwined in a ransom drama involving the husband of PM Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones). The actress who plays the French president – the film star Julie Delpy – has just popped up on my Zoom call. I have to ask her, is her Toussaint – who talks of 'listening to my people' and appealing, on immigration, to a 'silent majority who value national identity' – based on Marine Le Pen? Did Delpy observe the National Rally leader while studying for the role? 'No, because I didn't want her to be that; it's a fictional piece and I think it would be weird to…' She halts. 'First of all, Marine Le Pen speaks very bad English; it would have been a very different vibe.' Put-down neatly delivered, she notes: 'She's actually probably less of a Marine Le Pen and more of a Macron that's kind of flirting with the extreme far-Right.' Indeed, the weaponised wardrobe and one-upmanship chime well with the sitting president. Yet there's little of that in the 55-year-old Delpy, whose dress code is more cool professor than power dresser. But she certainly understands Toussaint's ­hunger to hold on to her role. 'I think for some women, and I'm not even talking in politics, for some women, power is very important. Even in my business, I've seen women fight so hard to get somewhere that they can become more fierce than ­certain men, because they had to battle twice as hard.' Showbusiness is relentless, to be sure, and Delpy has been part of it since she was a teenager. Her parents were both actors, her father a theatre director, when the great French film director Jean-Luc ­Godard put her on screen at just 14, capturing her intelligent mien as 'Wise Young Girl' in his 1985 film Détective. Within two years, she was turning heads in Bertrand Tavernier's Beatrice; by her mid-20s, Delpy had starred in Krzysztof Kieslowski's revered Three Colours trilogy, and become internationally adored in the quintessential indie romance Before Sunrise (1995). She played Céline, who steps off a train to explore Vienna with a passenger she's just met, Ethan Hawke's Jesse. 'It wasn't rape, it was manipulation' Her view of the film industry at the time she joined it still shocks. 'Everyone knows, in France, there are people walking around making movies who were openly dating 13-year-olds in the 1980s,' she once stated. Today, she remembers saying it to a French newspaper, how it described a generation of creepy men twisting 1960s ideals of 'sexual liberation'. 'Oh, you know, it's 'sexual freedom', blah, blah, but I was very against it… it wasn't rape, it was manipulation.' For her, as a teenager, the manipulation came in the form of 'flirting letters, love letters. I've received a lot of those, you know. I was constantly getting [them], trying to get me to cave in, when I was 13, 14, 15'. They came from 'mostly directors, by the way, it wasn't producers so much,' she adds. But the predatory tactic was generally the same. 'It was the artist and the 'muse',' she notes, with irony. Being part of that milieu, her parents were wise to it. 'My mom was very, very determined to stop me being a victim of that system. So she taught me, really young, to protect myself. And when I got to the US, I had to navigate the same thing. And I got a few enemies by saying no to very, very, very pow­erful men. I still had a career, but I did miss a lot of opportunities because I refused to comply.' The pressures she describes are well under­stood now, in the post-­ Weinstein era. Delpy has straightforward views about those who abuse their position. On her celebrated countryman Gérard Depardieu, 76, who was convicted in May of sexually assaulting two women on a film in 2021: 'If he's [an abuser], he has to be punished for it,' she says. 'I don't excuse – he's an incredibly t­alented actor, but, you know, nothing excuses sexual abuse.' 'One of the worst feelings of my life' Delpy, meanwhile, has forged a fascinating career as a writer, director and actress, which includes a role in the so-bad-it's-good An American Werewolf in Paris. Does she regret that one? 'Well, ­listen, [some] people love that film. So it's really funny every time someone comes up to me and says, 'I love Werewolf'. Even young ­people. I'm like, 'Why did you even watch this?'' She also starred in two sequels to Richard Linklater's paean to impulsive connection – Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013), for both of which she received Academy Award nominations as a co-writer with Linklater and Hawke. She believes she and her co-star deserved script credits for the first film, too. 'We were naive young actors,' she says. 'It was not a tweaking exercise, because I know the difference, so I'm not going to pick that film as my favourite because I don't think it's right.' Not being credited for her work, she says, was 'one of the worst feelings I've had in my life'. Fans still hanker for a fourth film, but Delpy confesses to reservations about how the story was resolved in Before Midnight, with the couple, now married parents, having a volcanic row that ends in rather implausible reconciliation. 'To this day, I don't love that ending,' she says. 'Maybe because I had nothing to do with it. That's an ego thing. But, um, I think the guys kind of did their little­ ­ending, and it didn't ­resonate for me that much.' They have talked about a fourth film, she admits. 'Richard sent us an email, possibly about my character dying of cancer. And I thought about it, and I was like, 'Really?'' She feels the characters represent the study of a relationship over decades, 'and to have her die at 50… It confused me a lot. Because I'd say women have so much to say in their 50s – I was a bit concerned that maybe Richard was not really understanding that.' Is Hollywood dying? The film industry continues to struggle post-Covid lockdowns, with audiences dropping alarmingly for everything but block­busters and low-budget horror. Is Hollywood dying? 'If films don't survive, it's a huge part of culture that's collapsing,' Delpy warns. She foresees difficult times ahead, though, with new threats emerging. 'When power becomes more overbearing and more controlling, more totalitarian, which is the era we are entering, I think art can be [seen as] a danger, can be a voice that people want to control.' Political events in the US, she explains, are 'really worrisome… We are at that place, I think, where people are concerned that democracy might be in danger, which is never a good thing, no matter what your political views are. 'Those structures are at stake right now in the US. I don't think we're there in France yet. In England, I imagine that there's still a strong democratic system, but it's being eroded.' It's clear she is not aligned with Toussaint's views. 'I believe it's easier to blame immigration than to blame a system ­falling apart by itself,' she says. It's an effective tactic, she adds. 'It worked 100 years ago. It worked 200 years ago. It's working now.' Did playing Toussaint give her a sense that she would like to influence politics more directly? 'I'm not a very greedy person,' she says, 'and I'm not ready to make compromises, so I'll never be in politics.' Hostage is on Netflix from Thursday August 21

Fix visa problems to allow Gaza students to study in Scotland
Fix visa problems to allow Gaza students to study in Scotland

The National

time2 hours ago

  • The National

Fix visa problems to allow Gaza students to study in Scotland

The Sunday Mail reports that Shaymaa, 32, who is using her first name due to safety concerns, is one of 10 Palestinians in Gaza who have been accepted onto fully-funded courses in Scotland. There are understood to be 78 Palestinians who have been accepted onto University courses in the UK. But, due to the only biometric processing centre in Gaza being closed – and all routes out of the country blocked by Israel - there is no way for the students to be allowed to complete the visa checks. READ MORE: Police Scotland 'breaching human rights to subdue Palestine protests' The UK requires visa applicants to provide fingerprints and photographs. The First Minister said he is 'appalled' that students are being prevented from reaching safety in Scotland. Edinburgh University and LibDem MP Christine Jardine have been lobbying the UK Government over the issue but fear time is running out as courses start in just a few weeks. Shaymaa is due to begin her PhD in English literature at Edinburgh University on September 1. She told the Sunday Mail: 'Education is the path to the future. It is one of the few remaining pathways to survival and dignity for Palestinians right now. 'The UK has an opportunity to offer practical, life-saving solutions to students like me. 'I urge him to implement an emergency route for students and researchers from Gaza, including biometric deferral and safe passage, so we are not excluded from opportunities we have rightfully earned.' Swinney said: 'I am appalled at the situation Shaymaa and other students from Gaza are facing. We must see urgent action from the UK Government to support them in taking up their university places in Scotland. 'The people of Gaza are already suffering unimaginably at the hands of the Israeli government – the idea that these students could also be denied the chance to take up the university places in Scotland they have worked so hard to attain is not acceptable to me.' The First Minister said Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth had contacted UK officials over the issue on August 13, and added that France, Ireland and Italy had managed to successfully evacuate students from Gaza. Gilruth has not yet received a reply, it is understood. 'The UK Government cannot simply duck its responsibilities here,' he added. 'Where there is a political will, a resolution can be found – and failure to act is literally putting these people's lives at risk. READ MORE: Alex Salmond's niece speaks out after Nicola Sturgeon memoir attacks 'I am clear that the international community must put a stop to Israel's killing in Gaza and that we must see the immediate recognition of a sovereign, independent Palestine. But until that point, the UK Government must do everything it can to ensure ordinary Gazans are not punished further.' Swinney said that the UK should do 'everything in its power' to get the students to safety. Earlier this month, 80 MPs signed an open letter to the Prime Minister urging him to take action to help the 78 students. SNP MP Pete Wishart, LibDem Wendy Chamberlain and Brian Leishman were among those who signed the letter. Shaymaa, originally from Absan al-Kabira, in the south of Gaza, was forced to flee her home when Israeli strikes started and has been displaced multiple times in the past 18 months. She is now living in a tent on a beach in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, with 11 others. 'Coming to Scotland wouldn't just allow me to continue my academic journey– which has been severely disrupted – but would also give me the chance to live and study in physical safety,' she said. "It's not just about personal safety either. It would be a chance to reclaim a sense of direction, to write and think and teach without fearing for my life every second. It would allow me to begin healing and to carry the stories of Gaza into spaces where they urgently need to be heard.' A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We are aware of these students and are actively considering how we can best support.'

British horse racing set for unprecedented strike over betting tax changes
British horse racing set for unprecedented strike over betting tax changes

The Independent

time2 hours ago

  • The Independent

British horse racing set for unprecedented strike over betting tax changes

British racing will stage an unprecedented one-day strike on 10 September in protest at a proposed rise in taxes on horserace betting. The four scheduled fixtures at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton will not take place after agreements between the owners of the courses and the British Horseracing Authority, making it the first time the sport has voluntarily refused to race in modern history. The BHA set up the 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign in response to proposals to replace the existing three-tax structure of online gambling duties with a single tax, with fears the current 15 per cent duty on racing could be increased to the 21 per cent levied on games of chance. Brant Dunshea, chief executive at the British Horseracing Authority, said: "We have decided to take the unprecedented decision to cancel our planned racing fixtures on September 10 to highlight to Government the serious consequences of the Treasury's tax proposals which threaten the very future of our sport. "British racing is already in a precarious financial position and research has shown that a tax rise on racing could be catastrophic for the sport and the thousands of jobs that rely on it in towns and communities across the country. "This is the first time that British racing has chosen not to race due to Government proposals. We haven't taken this decision lightly but in doing so we are urging the Government to rethink this tax proposal to protect the future of our sport which is a cherished part of Britain's heritage and culture. "Our message to Government is clear: axe the racing tax and back British racing." The four tracks involved are operated by the Jockey Club and the Arena Racing Company, with both backing the move. Jim Mullen, CEO at the Jockey Club, said: "We hope this pause for reflection will enable the Government to truly understand the economic impact of horseracing and its cultural significance to communities across the UK, as well as the world-class racing festivals we host. "After this period of reflection, we hope the full implications will be understood, and we can prevent the irreparable damage that threatens a sport the nation is, and should be, proud of." Martin Cruddace, CEO at ARC, added: "We have always been taxed and regulated differently, and it is imperative for our future that we continue to be so. "If the Government wants Britain to be a world leader in online casino and a world pauper in a sport at the heart of its culture, then tax harmonisation will achieve that aim." While the four meetings will be rescheduled, Paul Johnson, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation, underlined the "sacrifice" in calling a halt to the sport for a day. He said: "Cancelling fixtures is a huge sacrifice by racing and should serve as a stark reminder to the Government of the impact its tax raid will have on our sport. "Thousands of jobs are at stake alongside the loss of millions of pounds to the British economy." A Treasury spokesperson said: "We are consulting on bringing the treatment of online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to cut down bureaucracy - it is not about increasing or decreasing rates, and we welcome views from all stakeholders including businesses, trade bodies, the third sector and individuals."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store