Sheffield’s anti-apartheid coalition formed yet another Palestine solidarity protest this Wednesday afternoon at Sheffield Town Hall.
Hundreds of people were present as well as some giving rally speeches to express their desires for Palestine’s freedom and bring an end to the ongoing violence.
“The situation is catastrophic,” a Palestinian doctor from Gaza said during her rally speech. “Gaza has been exposed to nothing but more crime committed by Israel.
“We saw people displaced from their houses, leaving everything behind. Women are giving birth on the streets because there is no room for medical service.”
The crowd was especially furious at the explosion of a hospital in Gaza City that happened the day before the protest, which reportedly killed nearly 500 people.
Rafaat Wshah, 34, is a Palestinian living in Sheffield who lost his 12-year-old nephew in the bombing of the hospital.
“I was devastated beyond words. Why are we fighting? 500 people died. What for?” he said.
“Yesterday, my house in the north of Gaza was bombarded as well. My family was luckily outside, so they evacuated before the bombing. But the house was burnt down.
“They (my family) moved to the South, but they have no food, no electricity, no internet. There’s no safer place in Gaza, but it’s still getting bombarded. People are still being killed.”
Mr Wshah was one of the most active and passionate protesters at the Town Hall.
“I want to pass on this message to the whole world so that people will help and support us.”
Nada, 31, is another Palestinian living in Sheffield. She said: “After the bombing of the hospital, I was heartbroken. I think I didn’t say a word the whole evening.
“I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing, that I was living this reality that people are getting bombed in a hospital. And no one is doing anything to stop it.
“I want Palestinian voices to be heard. I want them to be seen as human beings. Right now, I feel like we’re just numbers – our pain doesn’t count, the deaths don’t mean anything, and that we will continue to suffer indefinitely. I want real change to start.”
To take part in the rally, join the next protest upcoming this Saturday, 21 October. Find more information on https://www.facebook.com/sheffieldpalestine