In an extraordinary act of remembrance and political opposition, more than 100 people from across Wales gathered at the Welsh Senedd on Wednesday 16 July to read – name by name – over 20,000 Palestinian children killed by Israel in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
The Welsh Senedd: remembrance and political opposition
From 7am until midnight, the steps of the Welsh Senedd will become a place of testimony and truth. Each name will be spoken aloud – each one a child, a life, a story cut short by violence. The event, titled “Know Their Names: Action Not Words”, transforms overwhelming statistics into a collective, human cry for justice and accountability:
View this post on Instagram
Organised by PSC Cymru and Parents and Teachers for Palestine, the action sends a clear message: public support for Palestine is growing in Wales, and people are no longer willing to accept silence, complicity or empty words from political leaders.
“If the death of over 20,000 children is not enough for our First Minister and MSs to demand decisive action and end our complicity, I’m truly lost for words,” said Clive Haswell of PSC Cymru:
UNRWA staff recently visited the Senedd and pleaded with our elected leaders to speak out and use their influence. Their continued silence and inaction kills.
Despite rulings by the International Court of Justice and arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, both the UK and Welsh governments have failed to act. Legal obligations are being ignored. Without consequences, international law becomes meaningless.
Frankie Finn of Parents and Teachers for Palestine said:
On 16 July, we’ll stand outside our national parliament to honour these children – by saying their names.
Each was precious. Each was innocent. Many died horrific, painful deaths. There were so many of them. They must not be forgotten.
The Welsh government must act
PSC Cymru is calling on the Welsh government and Members of the Senedd to:
- Publicly acknowledge the scale and horror of what is happening in Gaza
- Support a full and immediate arms embargo on Israel
- Urge the UK Government to impose targeted sanctions
- Take concrete steps at the devolved level to end Welsh complicity and uphold international law.
Wales has declared itself a ‘globally responsible nation’, and says “when doing anything to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales, it takes account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global wellbeing”.
The groups say that now is the moment to show what that means.
Featured image and additional images supplied
By The Canary
This post was originally published on Canary.