For a fighting NUS – against cuts, racism, imperialism and war
Monday, 20th May 2013
27th November 2012
The National Union of Students – which represents 7 million students in Britain – today made the landmark decision to “condemn and call for an immediate end to the siege on Gaza” by a unanimous vote of the NUS National Executive Council. 
19th November 2012
Israel’s assault on Gaza is causing massive death and destruction, as one of the world’s most powerful militaries attacks an almost defenceless Gazan population living under siege. 
More than 100 Palestinians, including children, women and civilians, have been killed since Israel’s air strikes began. Three Israelis have been killed during the past week.
Read more9th January 2012
In an unprecedented move, the National Union of Students has taken steps to support Palestinian human rights by urging Student Unions to boycott Eden Springs and Veolia – two companies that are directly implicated in maintaining the occupation and are currently operating on British campuses.
Read more21st September 2011
By Aaron Kiely, NUS NEC
This week the National Executive Council of the National Union of Students will be debating Palestine. I hope to persuade my colleagues to support a proposal I have put forward - alongside other NUS NEC members including the LGBT Officer and Black Students’ Officer-, which would commit NUS to oppose the illegal occupation of Palestine and also call for an end to the siege on Gaza.
Read more18th May 2011
Yesterday the National Union of Students (NUS) finally took the decision to support Palestinian human rights and strongly condemn Israel’s siege on Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The new policy commits NUS to support the Palestinians’ right to education by building links with students at the Islamic University of Gaza and to send an NUS delegation on future convoys to the Gaza strip. Read more
Read more15th March 2011
The inspirational resistance of the Palestinian people to years of occupation, war and most recently the siege on Gaza will be celebrated at a Festival hosted by SOAS Palestine Society and supported by various organisations including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign this weekend. Don't miss it! Read more
Read more28th January 2011
In a film, broadcast on Channel 4 news earlier this week, Israeli soldiers reveal in revolting detail their experiences of invading Gaza in 2008/09 and the part they played in massacring of over 1,400 Palestinians.
The revelations include how soldiers were ordered to “cleanse” Palestinians neighbourhoods. This is the first time IDF soldiers have shared their views on Operation Cast Lead on camera.
This is a must see video – please share it. Read more
Read more20th November 2012
Dear SOAS Occupiers,
We congratulate and salute your brave stand in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, who continue to face an unrelenting bombardment from one of the world’s most powerful militaries.
As Desmond Tutu once said “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
At a time when the British media is absurdly attempting to present Israel’s barbaric assault on Gaza as an equal war, in which the Palestinians are just as responsible as Israel, your actions in occupying SOAS will help shatter these lies and raise greater understanding of what is actually happening in Gaza.
Read more21st August 2012
With the US and Britain continuing to spend billions of pounds waging war on Afghanistan, intervening to de-stabilise Syria and threatening to bomb Iran, it is vital that students actively support movements for peace and justice. What better place to start than the first week back at university or college?
Read more23rd September 2011
Yesterday, 22 September 2011, the National Union of Students (NUS) National Executive Council (NEC) shamefully voted down a proposal to support ending the illegal occupation of Palestine in line with UN resolutions and an end to the brutual siege on Gaza.
Read more12th May 2011
The announcement that Egypt will end its complicity with Israel’s siege on Gaza is extremely good news for the Palestinians and all those who support peace, justice, equality and human rights across the world.
The significance of Egypt’s new foreign policy and orientation toward supporting basic Palestinian human rights must not be underestimated.
Israel’s brutal siege on Gaza has denied the Palestinians their basic human rights for 5 years.
The blockade, illegal under international law, cuts the Palestinians trapped in Gaza off from the outside world and severely limits basic supplies from entering such as food, safe water and medicine - making life intolerable for the 1.5 million people living there.
The Palestinians right to education has been particularly hard hit by the siege. Basic educational equipment including books, paper, computers, stationary and desks are all in limited supply and Israel routinely cuts off Gaza’s electricity supply for several hours every day.
The siege has also prevented serious reconstruction of Gaza’s educational infrastructure from taking place since Israel’s war on Gaza: cement to rebuild homes, schools, hospitals and universities reduced to rubble during Operation Cast Lead has not been allowed to cross the border into Gaza.
Consequently the situation in Gaza has been defined as a “humanitarian crisis” by leading international human rights and humanitarian organisations including Human Rights Watch, UNRWA, Amnesty International and the World Health Organisation.
Khaled Al-Mudallal is the Student Officer for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and is from Gaza is very optimistic about the new developments, which could lead to the siege on Gaza ending altogether.
He said: ”Egypt's decision to open the crossing is the first step to lift the siege completely on Gaza, this will bring hope to many Gazans’ who haven't been able to return to Gaza due to the harsh Israeli siege for more than 4 years. I hope that Egyptian people stand side to side with their Palestinian people in order to break the siege on Gaza and let the Palestinians enjoy their democratic choice in their forthcoming elections.”
With the Egyptian revolution’s move to end its complicity with the siege there is now the opportunity to end the human suffering and start to rebuild all that was destroyed during Israel’s war on Gaza over 2 years ago.
The new Palestinian unity between Fatah and Hamas is another hugely significant and positive development in the Palestinian struggle for freedom. Egypt played a crucial role in facilitating the discussions for the unity agreement – in contrast to the role that the former Mubarak regime played of actively sabotaging Palestinian unity - yet another achievement of the young revolution.
The revolutionary changes sweeping the Middle East have already transformed the prospects for Palestinian liberation. Now more than ever international pressure for Israel to end the siege on Gaza must be strengthened – and we all have a part to play.
Sending convoys of aid to break the blockade has proved a very effective way of focusing the world’s attention on the Palestinians in Gaza and the inhumane siege that Israel has kept them under for the last 5 years.
One year ago, in May 2010, hundreds of peace campaigners and human rights activists joined together in an international effort to break the siege by sea to deliver aid. Israel launched a deadly military assault on the peaceful mission and killed nine civilians in international waters.
The international response to Israel’s massacre on the Mavi Marmara was unprecedented: governments across the world condemned Israel’s violence and also called for an end to the siege – including the British government. Awareness about Israel’s collective punishment of the people in Gaza massively increased as a result.
The next ‘Gaza flotilla’ sets off this June - with hundreds taking part from across the world including human rights activists, peace campaigns and European Union parliamentarians – on a mission to deliver school materials, medical equipment and construction equipment to the Gaza strip. This is a mission students need to get fully behind – sign up to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign weekly update to find out how. It is also not too late to apply to join the flotilla itself – check out www.britain2gaza.com for more info.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign also has a ‘End the Siege on Gaza’ petition which calls on the British government to ensure it actively ensures that the blockade is lifted – sign it today.
This weekend there are a number of important actions in support of the Palestinians - get involved and spread the word!
End the Siege on Gaza – Free Palestine Protest
Saturday 14th May, 12noon, Downing Street Called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, CND, Palestinian Forum in BritainSolidarity with Palestine – From Nakba to Intifada public meeting
Friday 13th May, 6.30pm-9pm, University of London Union Organised by the Equality Movement Speakers include Lowkey, George Galloway, Karma Nabulsi (former PLO representative), Yael Kahn (anti-Zionist Israeli activist), Sarah Colborne (eye witness from the Mavi Mamara) and Jody McIntyreDemonstration in solidarity with Palestine outside the Israeli Embassy
Sunday 15th May, 12noon Organised by the Equality Movement1st February 2011
Adam O’Connell documents how the Left at Birmingham University has made significant gains at what has historically been one of most right wing Student Unions in the country. He describes the ongoing struggle for progressive politics on campus – and the lessons activists across the country can learn from their success. Read more
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