Over 200 protesters gathered in Inverness, Scotland to demonstrate against Israel's war on Gaza. Despite adverse weather conditions, the protesters expressed their opposition to the conflict and criticized the media's support for Israel. They called for solidarity between Israeli workers and the Palestinian people in the struggle for socialism in the region. The demonstrators also highlighted the silencing of the Palestinian narrative in mainstream media and criticized politicians for equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. They expressed anger towards Keir Starmer and accused him of expelling anti-Zionists from the Labour Party. The protesters also questioned the alliances between world leaders and Netanyahu, pointing out historical support for Zionism and control of resources in the region.
WSWS reporters spoke to protesters at a demonstration of over 200 people on Saturday in Inverness, Scotland, in opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza. Protesters braved atrocious weather conditions, with Inverness on an amber weather warning with heavy storm conditions.
Protesters in Inverness with a banner reading "Stop Genocide-Stop Ethnic Cleansing-Free Palestine"
Sally Johnson, a former occupational therapist, said, “I'm appalled by the western media's support for Israel. It seems to be money related, and power related with no consideration for human rights and the rights of families to live in their own homes. I think this is linked to the US's global war drive and war drive in the middle east.
“I'm heartened by the response in defence of the Palestinian people in places like Glasgow and London. I feel so energised by them, to fight against not just the Palestinian conflict but conflicts all over the world. I absolutely support the WSWS's call for protesting and striking Israeli workers to link up with the Palestinian people in a struggle for socialism in the region.”
Fran Crowhurst, a teacher, said, “The Palestinians are completely silenced on the mainstream media, but I think people are seeing through this narrative.
Fran Crowhurst [Photo: Highland Palestine/Facebook]
“The brutality Palestinian people face is being brought into people's homes, especially young people, who have access to information outside of the mainstream media and have the ability to connect up with other voices around the world.
“I'm fuming with the recent comments by politicians in parliament, even though I knew this is the kind of filth they'd come out with. I'm particularly angry with [Labour Party leader] Keir Starmer. I loathe the man with a passion. The media labelled Jeremy Corbyn an anti-Semite because he's an anti-Zionist and they used this campaign to expel anti-Zionists from the Labour Party. It’s an insult to the memory of Holocaust to redefine anti-Zionism as anti-Semitism. But more and more people will see through that as more people like you report and do interviews like this.
“Who are the real antisemites when there's a Nazi in charge of Italy now, a Nazi in charge of Hungary, and they're welcomed into Downing Street. Shame on the likes of [Labour Shadow Cabinet Ministers] David Lammy, Jess Philips, and Wes Streeting for prosecuting this campaign within the Labour Party and more broadly.
“I'm not surprised at all about Biden and Sunak’s embrace of Netanyahu. Some people think it only goes back to the Second World War. They've supported Zionism since the Balfour Declaration. Why did they want control of those areas? Because they wanted a watchdog in that area. The way they drew up the lines and carved it up, they wanted control of oil and important crossings in that region.
Some of the protesters in Inverness [Photo: Highland Palestine/Facebook]