10-05-2025
Doctor who grew up in Gaza speaks at Highlands pro-Palestine march
Dr Salim Ghayyda, a paediatric consultant at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, addressed a pro-Palestine demonstration in the city centre on Saturday afternoon.
At least 1000 people turned out to the march, which was organised by Highland Palestine and Highland Hearts for Palestine to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
(Image: Paul Campbell) (Image: Paul Campbell) (Image: Paul Campbell) (Image: Paul Campbell) It comes amid Israel's ongoing blockade of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and the announcement earlier this week that Israeli ministers approved plans to capture and occupy the entire Gaza Strip.
Campaigners gathered at the bottom of Stephen's Brae and then marched across Ness Bridge – where a planned sit down and silence took place – before finishing at Bught Park.
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Ghayyda, who was born and grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, has been raising money for the last 18 months to get 31 members of his family to safety.
He has so far raised more than £125,000, but he still has four brothers and a sister, along with their families, who remain in Gaza.
Ghayyda (below) has worked in the NHS for 20 years and is now married, with a son and two daughters.
(Image: Paul Campbell) Addressing the crowd on Saturday, Ghayyda said: "The genocide movement is continuing to grow, and we need to continue putting the pressure on governments and politicians to stop this genocide, to free Palestine and to bring justice back to the Palestinians.
"It's the most hideous crimes you can think of as a human, it's wicked and it's cruel and it must never be accepted by the free world. To deny children and people of food and water it inexcusable."
READ MORE: Israel 'sending soldiers to commit war crimes in Gaza', says former army chief
Ghayyda added: "It's very emotional every time I turn up [to the marches], I'm not sure people will show their support, but they do, in bigger numbers.
(Image: Paul Campbell) 'Today was a show of solidarity for Palestine, it's the second march here in Inverness. It's a sign that solidarity has become normality, people from all of society showing up and expressing disgust for what Israel is inflicting in the Palestinian people.
"We need to come together and show our governments that we believe this is wrong."
It is the second demonstration in Inverness organised by the two groups, with the inaugural march taking place in October.
Organisers previously spoke with The National about how they are ensuring the pro-Palestine movement continues to thrive in the Highlands.
(Image: Paul Campbell) Saturday's march coincided with the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, which falls on May 15th every year. Nakba Day commemorates the 750,000 Palestinians who were forcibly displaced and more than 500 Palestinian cities, towns and villages which were destroyed by Israel in 1948 during the country's formation.
Leanne Maclean, one of the main organisers of the event, said: "No food or aid has entered Gaza in two months. We are watching children, caged with no where to go, starving and then getting bombed in their tents whilst they are sleeping. It's abhorrent.
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'It's more important than ever to stand together to say to our Government that we wholly reject their actions supporting an illegal occupying apartheid state, whilst they continue to supply them with weapons and intelligence gathered via spy planes, which all of our taxes pay for. Not in our name.
'We have a duty to protect all children and their loss of human rights is a loss to humanity as a whole. It's important that the people of Gaza know that we in Highlands stand with them.
'We are marching to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and to let aid and food in."
Highland Palestine is a network of people in the region who support the Palestinian right to self-determination. The group has also raised significant funds for charity Medical Aid for Palestinians as well as sending donations directly to families in Gaza.
Highland Hearts for Palestine was formed by a group of 30 women who initially came together to support the efforts of Ghayyda.
You can donate to Ghayyda's fundraiser here.
