Silent vigil held in London in solidarity with Palestinians in Rafah

LONDON (AA) – A demonstration in London was held on Wednesday in support of Palestinian civilians ahead of a planned Israeli assault on Rafah.

Protesters staged a silent vigil outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Whitehall to draw attention to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Activists from Amnesty International dressed all in black garb and white face masks demonstrated while holding statements from Palestinians in Rafah who have experienced devastating Israeli attacks on their homes.

A message by Malak Al-Shaer from Rafah, read: “I couldn’t open my eyes because they were full of glass, shrapnel and sand.”

Another by 30-year-old Ahmad Nasman, said: “My body survived but my spirit died with my children.”

The group urged the British government to use all means to press Israeli authorities into reversing any decision to launch a full-scale attack on Rafah.

“The UK must also call for an immediate cease-fire, the release of all civilian hostages in Gaza, the urgent lifting of Israel’s blockade on Gaza, and UK ministers must suspend arms transfers to Israel and proactively support international justice mechanisms,” it said in a statement.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN said Sunday that the army approved a plan to attack Rafah, where more than 1.4 million people are living, most in tents, deprived of essential services.

The army’s announcement triggered concern from the UN and countries worldwide, as it could have catastrophic results for Palestinians in Rafah, who have nowhere to shelter.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since early October, and has killed at least 28,567 people.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the ICJ. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Israel continues to ignore the ruling.