A group of local creatives has come together to stand in solidarity with innocent Palestinians in response to the conflict happening in Gaza where the Israeli government is in the midst of heavy military action in the last safe place, Rafah.
Organising an ongoing protest in the Town Square and calling for an immediate ceasefire to the acts of violence that have been ongoing since early October 2023, the local activists said they couldn’t stand by without doing something about the unfolding situation that’s devastating the lives of many.
“We found it incredibly difficult to keep living our lives in this contradiction by which we’re safe at night and we get to sleep under safe roofs and don’t hear bombs,” Verity Nunan told the Barrier Truth.
“It feels like the very least we can do is stand in solidarity with those people and so we’re turning up in a public space – the Town Square – and just doing that. It’s a time to come together and collectively grieve.”
With a large sign spelled out to say, “CEASEFIRE NOW”, led by local artist and screen-printer Liisa Peisto, the group has also made badges with the word “ceasefire” to pin to one’s clothing and has watermelon – signifying the Palestinian’s public expression in resistance and persistence. The fruit also bears the colours of the Palestinian flag, of which the Israeli government made public displays of a criminal offence.
“We’ll turn up every day and we’ll wear these badges every day,” Ms Nunan said.
“I just feel like it’s the least we can do, given that we exercise the privilege of safety every day. That’s not the case for a lot of innocent people.
“I mean, it feels ridiculous to be saying the same word over and over again, like, how can this not have stopped yet? It’s absurd. It’s the same message – stop bombing innocent people. That’s it. It’s as simple as that.”
