Latest news with #solidarity
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council recognising their town's link with Gaza is ‘important' says Jewish group
A Jewish group has called a UK council recognising 'friendship links' with an area of Gaza, 'an important act of solidarity' after local councillors voted for an immediate ceasefire. Last week, Hastings Borough Council, in east Sussex, passed a motion to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to all arms sales to Israel and to support the town's friendship links with the people of Al-Mawasi – a section of the Gaza strip. The decision comes after multiple attempts over the past 21 months to bring a ceasefire motion prior to the recent local elections, which changed the make-up of the council. The motion was carried by a majority of 14 Green and Hastings Independent Group MPs, with three voting against and 11 abstentions, mostly from Labour councillors. Hastings Jews for Justice have welcomed the decision, they said: 'We stand with the Palestinians in Gaza who are being slaughtered and starved right now and we demand immediate action of our politicians. 'We applaud all the councillors who chose to stand on the right side of history and used their voice and their vote to fight these crimes against humanity. 'And we reject the idea, shared by several Labour councillors during the debate, that standing up for a people facing genocide is an attack on Jewish people in our community or 'divisive'.' Proposing the motion, Green Party councillor Yunis Smith said: 'We must ask ourselves, when the dust settles, will we have done enough? Will we be able to say that we stood up even when it was difficult? 'Or will we, like generations before us, say that we saw the signs and still we did nothing?' In December 2023, Al-Mawasi was designated a safe zone by the IDF and Palestinians were urged repeatedly to relocate to the area. Since then, the area has been repeatedly attacked, one of the most deadly was July 13 2024, where Israeli jets bombed Al-Mawasi, killing 90 people and injuring 300 displaced Palestinians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi group has been building a friendship and language exchange with the Palestinian area over the past few years. Mr Smith said: 'From one coastal town to another, we've shown that solidarity, dignity and human connection shine brighter than cruelty, 'Al-Mawasi, like Hastings, is defined not just by its land but by the resilience of its people. They survive, endure and beckon us to witness their struggle and their strength.' Hastings has become the most recent in a line of UK councils to pass a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Hastings Jews for Justice added: 'This is an important act of solidarity with a people who are being made to suffer in the most horrific ways imaginable and we are determined to show that as British Jews it is not in our names.' The Green leader of the council, Councillor Glen Haffenden, has reportedly received more emails on this subject from his residents than on any other subject since becoming a councillor. Hastings campaign group Friends of Al-Mawasi says there has been a 'marked escalation of threatening and abusive behaviour' towards anyone in the town showing sympathy or support for Palestine over the past few weeks. Sussex Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing after a woman was allegedly assaulted while wearing a Keffiyah at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Council recognising their town's link with Gaza is ‘important' says Jewish group
A Jewish group has called a UK council recognising 'friendship links' with an area of Gaza, 'an important act of solidarity' after local councillors voted for an immediate ceasefire. Last week, Hastings Borough Council, in east Sussex, passed a motion to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to all arms sales to Israel and to support the town's friendship links with the people of Al-Mawasi – a section of the Gaza strip. The decision comes after multiple attempts over the past 21 months to bring a ceasefire motion prior to the recent local elections, which changed the make-up of the council. The motion was carried by a majority of 14 Green and Hastings Independent Group MPs, with three voting against and 11 abstentions, mostly from Labour councillors. Hastings Jews for Justice have welcomed the decision, they said: 'We stand with the Palestinians in Gaza who are being slaughtered and starved right now and we demand immediate action of our politicians. 'We applaud all the councillors who chose to stand on the right side of history and used their voice and their vote to fight these crimes against humanity. 'And we reject the idea, shared by several Labour councillors during the debate, that standing up for a people facing genocide is an attack on Jewish people in our community or 'divisive'.' Proposing the motion, Green Party councillor Yunis Smith said: 'We must ask ourselves, when the dust settles, will we have done enough? Will we be able to say that we stood up even when it was difficult? 'Or will we, like generations before us, say that we saw the signs and still we did nothing?' In December 2023, Al-Mawasi was designated a safe zone by the IDF and Palestinians were urged repeatedly to relocate to the area. Since then, the area has been repeatedly attacked, one of the most deadly was July 13 2024, where Israeli jets bombed Al-Mawasi, killing 90 people and injuring 300 displaced Palestinians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi group has been building a friendship and language exchange with the Palestinian area over the past few years. Mr Smith said: 'From one coastal town to another, we've shown that solidarity, dignity and human connection shine brighter than cruelty, 'Al-Mawasi, like Hastings, is defined not just by its land but by the resilience of its people. They survive, endure and beckon us to witness their struggle and their strength.' Hastings has become the most recent in a line of UK councils to pass a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Hastings Jews for Justice added: 'This is an important act of solidarity with a people who are being made to suffer in the most horrific ways imaginable and we are determined to show that as British Jews it is not in our names.' The Green leader of the council, Councillor Glen Haffenden, has reportedly received more emails on this subject from his residents than on any other subject since becoming a councillor. Hastings campaign group Friends of Al-Mawasi says there has been a 'marked escalation of threatening and abusive behaviour' towards anyone in the town showing sympathy or support for Palestine over the past few weeks. Sussex Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing after a woman was allegedly assaulted while wearing a Keffiyah at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Morocco, Gambia Pledge to Make Partnership a Model of Inter-African Cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Mr. Nasser Bourita and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Mr. Sering Modou Njie, reiterated on Wednesday in Rabat their countries' shared commitment to making the Morocco-Gambia partnership a model of inter-African cooperation based on values of solidarity and mutual support. During their meeting, the two ministers also praised the strong ties of brotherhood and solidarity uniting the two countries, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Adama Barrow. They also discussed various ways to deepen ties between Morocco and The Gambia, and reviewed cooperation between the two countries in areas of common interest at the bilateral, regional, and international levels. Mr. Bourita and Njie also reaffirmed their commitment to exploring new prospects of cooperation in priority areas such as investment, industry, trade, fisheries and renewable energy, health, water, education, infrastructure, and ports. In this regard, Mr. Bourita reiterated Morocco's willingness to contribute to the implementation of The Gambia's National Development Plan 2023-2027, which aims to provide basic social services and promote social and economic development in The Gambia. Njie's visit to Morocco is his first travel abroad since his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chloe Kelly: England's success should not mask racism suffered by Jess Carter
Chloe Kelly emphasised that England's success should not be allowed to mask the racism suffered by teammate Jess Carter at Euro 2025. The Lionesses stood in solidarity with Carter at the start of their semi-final tie against Italy as they decided not to take the knee at the whistle for the first time this tournament. It follows Carter speaking out about the racist abuse she has been subject to on social media while at the tournament as she took the decision to step back from running her accounts. 'It's disappointing to see that, sometimes, winning masks racism. It's really disappointing that sometimes it should mask that - it definitely shouldn't,' said Kelly. 'It needs to be a learning for everyone, that it has no place in our sport and no place in society too.' Ahead of England's 2-1 extra-time victory over Italy in their Euro 2025 semi-final, their bench had stood with arms linked by the side of the pitch in solidarity with Carter. Chants for the defender also rang round the Stade de Geneve on 16 minutes, to represent Carter's number, as supporters showed their solidarity against the racism that remains prevalent in the game, particularly on social media. 'I'm so proud to stand side-by-side with the girls in this team, Jess Carter and every single player in this team,' added Kelly. 'It was a special moment for us and a powerful moment for us, to show that this is not what we accept, not in society, not in sport, and there needs to be more done to make sure this isn't happening over and over again.' On Sunday, Carter posted on her Instagram that she would leave social media after suffering racist abuse throughout the tournament. She wrote: 'From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racist abuse. 'Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don't agree or think it's okay to target someone's appearance or race. 'Hopefully speaking out will make the people writing this abuse think twice so that others won't have to deal with it.' The Lionesses, the FA, UEFA and FIFA all followed with statements in support of Carter, though the squad made the decision not to take the knee against Italy as they felt their message was not being listened to. While statements continue to be written, there remains a lack of structural action to tackle such issues, including in the policing of social media platforms where abuse remains widespread.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lionesses make different gesture in support of Jess Carter after refusing to take knee
The Lionesses bench opted to stand arm-in-arm instead of taking the knee against Italy to show their support to Jess Carter, standing up to the 'ridiculous and disgusting' racist abuse she has been subjected to. Carter spoke out at the abuse she has received throughout Euro 2025 on Sunday, with the 27-year-old deciding to step away from social media and the Football Association working with UK police to identify those responsible for the hateful posts. Follow live: Latest England v Italy score and goal updates England's players have been angered by a team-mate suffering racist abuse during the tournament and decided in a meeting on Saturday night that they will not take the knee before kick-off against Italy - ditching the symbolic anti-racism gesture the Lionesses have performed for several years. Carter said she was 'ready to perform' against Italy if required but was dropped to Sarina Wiegman's substitutes bench in Geneva, with Esme Morgan taking her place in the starting XI. Yet as the game got underway, Carter and her fellow substitutes stood together on the touchline in a new gesture of solidarity against racism. On the decision to not take the knee against Italy, midfielder Georgia Stanway said: "We've decided not to take the knee because we want more action to be made. We want to create more of a talking point and a point to make more change. 'That starts with social media and people having access to be able to do certain things. So our stance and opinion stay the same, and that's what we've decided as a collective.' Stanway also said the Lionesses' collective response to the abuse suffered by Carter has 'brought us together as a team' and said anyone posting abuse towards players on social media 'are not fans'. Wiegman, meanwhile, was confident the Lionesses will be able to switch their attention to the pitch against Italy, insisting that there was no expectation for them to send a message at kick-off. 'They don't need a message, the team came really well together,' she said. 'We spoke about it, everyone wants to perform tomorrow, but we wanted to address this and send a message to the world. It says a lot about the team." Wiegman is aiming to lead England to a third major final after reaching the finals of the Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup, with only Italy standing in the way of a shot at defending their European crown on Sunday.
