2 days ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire activists join 4,000 strong March to Gaza
Jim Scott, a tree surgeon and activist from Mathry, and Tamsin Nash, a Pembrokeshire art curator and mother of four are joining the Global March to Gaza.
The march involves more than four thousand people from 54 different countries walking on foot on a three-day, 30-mile hike through the Sinai desert to the border crossing at Gaza. They aim to demand a stop to the genocide and demanding that Israel re-opens the border to allow a humanitarian corridor to be established.
(Image: Jim Scott) The campaigners set off on Friday, June 13, aiming to reach Rafah by Sunday, June 15.
Pembrokeshire campaigner Jim Scott joins the march as part of the official delegation from CND Cymru.
'I am aware that by marching 30 miles on foot through the Sinai desert to the Rafah border we may face arrest, detention, deportation or imprisonment,' said Jim.
'A worse outcome might be that if we do reach Rafah which is a militarised zone, we may face military aggression and could even be killed ourselves by the Israeli army.'
Upon his arrival in Egypt Jim published an open letter sent to Pembrokeshire's Labour MP, Henry Tufnell, Eluned Morgan MS and other elected representatives in Wales including secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens heavily criticising them for inaction over the Gaza genocide.
'As one of your constituents and as a citizen of the United Kingdom, I feel I must act where you have not acted and take steps to prevent the further genocide in Gaza where your government has failed to do so,' the letter begins.
'As the British government and yourself have failed in your international duty and legal obligation to effectively oppose and prevent war crimes, ethnic cleansing and genocide in occupied Palestine over the last 19 months, I feel I have no choice but to take action myself.
'Only those of us who resist, oppose and fight back against Israel's crimes now will be on the right side of history.'
(Image: Jim Scott) The letter concludes by imploring politicians to demand that a humanitarian corridor to be opened via Rafah and criticised the UK Government for not taking meaningful steps such as ending arms sales and proper economic sanctions on the entire Israeli state.
Pembrokeshire mother of four, Tasmin, described herself as an 'empathetic human', when asked why she'd travelled to Egypt to join the delegation.
'Yesterday I saw four bewildered children bleeding on a hospital bed, from another bomb attack. How can I carry on as normal?' she said.
'With tens of thousands murdered as Israel continues to destroy and burn people alive, I cannot rest. I cannot stay silent.
'We have witnessed atrocities enacted with impunity for 20 months. Poets killed, journalists assassinated, children snipered, fathers murdered for being hungry, newborns denied critical care and left to die, children orphaned, women shot - the crimes are colossal. I have protested, lobbied, fundraised, talked, disrupted."
"Now is the time to mobilise our passion and humanity. Alongside the 12 hearts aboard the Freedom Flotilla I endeavour to do what our governments have failed - rise and move to show it's the people who will make the difference.
"We are united for justice and solidarity for Palestine."
(Image: Jim Scott) The members of the delegation said they were moved by the high levels of support offered from many people who have pledged to donate to a crowdfunder to help with the costs of attending the march.
A spokesperson for CND Cymru said:
'We are proud to support this important march by sending a delegation.
'In the face of the genocide of the Palestinian people, western governments have been silent. In being part of this march, we are telling the Palestinian people we bear witness. And we will not forgive those who have committed these acts of brutality.
'As the Madleen and Conscience carried both material aid and the hope and goodwill of the people of the world, so too does this international march.'
