Latest news with #HighlandPalestine
The National
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
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. READ MORE: Scottish musician releases single condemning Israel's 'war crimes' in Gaza 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. READ MORE: Scottish Greens call for end to monarchy ahead of major pro-Republic rally '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.
The National
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Palestine solidarity thriving in Highlands ahead of Inverness march
Campaign groups Highland Palestine and Highland Hearts for Palestine are organising their second march through Inverness, taking place on May 10 following a successful inaugural march in October. Leanne Maclean, one of the main organisers of next month's event, said the last march saw around 1000 people 'come together as one collective and stand in solidarity' with Palestine. (Image: Highland Palestine) Maclean said that while the focus of many pro-Palestine demonstrations remains in the central belt, it was important to recognise that "these aren't centralised issues" and the Highlands has "a part to play". 'We might be smaller than the central belt in numbers, but we certainly pack a mighty punch in terms of how we feel about what's happening in Palestine,' she said. 'It's a human issue, we're talking about the human rights of Palestinians. We have Palestinians and people from the diaspora in our own community, we have a diverse population within the Highlands, and it's important to acknowledge that and recognise that we all have a part to play. READ MORE: Israel accelerating illegal West Bank expansion 'eight times faster' – David Lammy 'We have to make our voices heard loud and clear in the Highlands so that people understand that these aren't just centralised issues, it's something that we all carry together. 'It's important for Palestinians to know that that support and love for them, and that commitment to fight for their liberation and for their rights, is felt across the world, in small communities as well as in large cities.' Maclean added that people in the Highlands 'share deep similarities' with Palestinians, referring specifically to the 'clear link' with the Highland Clearances. She said: 'It's important to make those connections about the empathy we feel, that understanding of what it's like to experience displacement. We've had that in our own history not too long ago, so it's important to understand that and know that we have so much in common. 'We can recognise that there's deep similarities in terms of displacement, of occupying land and forcing the movement of people with no right to return to their homes. 'Within the Clearances we had a mass movement of people who were then not allowed to return back home and were also facing extreme situations of violence to move them out of what was their homeland. 'We're deeply concerned by that, and we know the impacts that has on communities for generations, and people will also have their own generational trauma linked with that.' READ MORE: I'm a mother of six in Gaza. I worry my children will starve due to Israel's blockade The upcoming march in Inverness has been timed to coincide with the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, which falls on May 15 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. The demonstration will begin at 1pm on May 10 at the bottom of Stephen's Brae (IV2 3NA), with the march setting off at 1.30pm. It will end at Bught Park with a rally between 2pm and 3pm. The poster for the march on May 10 (Image: Supplied) Maclean said she "definitely" didn't see May's march as the groups' last, with both Highland Palestine and Highland Hearts organising events and demonstrations across the Highlands regularly. Maclean encouraged 'everyone to come along and join' the demonstration on May 10, adding: 'This is nothing about hate, this is only about support for Palestinians. 'It's about families, friends and colleagues coming together in a safe and inclusive way to take a stand and lend their voices together.'
