Palestinian mass trauma ‘devastating’, local solidarity group warns
THE CEASEFIRE between Israel and Hamas has not stopped the killing in Gaza and the occupied territories, Palestinian Solidarity Shetland has warned.
The recent acceleration of building settlements in the West Bank is driving Palestinians from their homes and land, the group said, while the military occupation of Gaza is expanding and consolidating.
Palestinian Solidarity Shetland describes itself as “a loose collective of people” intent on bringing attention to the need to secure human rights and a longer-term peace for Palestinians in the occupied territories.
The group holds an hour-long vigil in Commercial Street every Saturday lunchtime and has met with the isles’ political representatives to raise concern over UK arms sale to Israel, including newly elected MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad.
Since the 7 October Hamas atrocity on Israel almost three years ago, Palestinian Solidarity Shetland has raised more than £20,000 primarily for medical aid.
The group has also raised concern about the Israeli energy conglomerate Delek Group’s indirect stake in the Rosebank oil field, which lies to the northwest of Shetland.
As a majority shareholder in Ithaca Energy – the company owns a 20 per cent interest in Rosebank – Delek Group will potentially be earning millions of pounds should the controversial oil field get licenced to be developed.
A spokesperson for the group said: “It is too easy to oversimplify the rights, wrongs, territorial warfare, and messy complexities that emerged following the formation of the State of Israel.
“However, the outcome of the 7 October Hamas atrocity has resulted in the Israeli government, emboldened with US support, subjecting civilians in Gaza to what amounts to systematic ethnic cleansing and genocide.
“The ceasefire has not stopped the killing. Recent acceleration of settlements in the West Bank is driving Palestinians from their homes and land.
“The death toll is now over 70,000 and 20,000 of this consist of children. Figures for those maimed is double the number of deaths.
“Of the two million citizens in Gaza many are repeatedly displaced and shunted into dense, squalid tent camps and others remain in bomb damaged urban housing with loss infrastructure. The Israeli government is consolidating and expanding the military occupation of Gaza.
“The implications of this mass trauma and loss is devastating.”
Hannah Mary Goodlad’s office has been approached for comment.
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