Protesters surround Senedd with 'red-line' at Palestinian demo

BBC News

7 hours ago

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have gathered at the Senedd to call for the end of Israeli action in Gaza.A long red banner was held around much of the parliamentary estate, and chants of "free Palestine" were heard.Some politicians, including Labour Senedd member John Griffiths and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, joined the demonstration.Meanwhile Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar criticised the protest over slogans he said were used there.
Former Plaid Cymru MS, Bethan Sayed, said the red banner - meant to symbolise a "red line" - was to show "how the people of Wales are angry at the current situation".The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Cymru activist said: "We know the Welsh government, the Senedd has taken a vote in support of a ceasefire, but since then, we haven't really seen as much action collectively as a parliament."The Welsh government is not responsible for international relations, but Ms Sayed said: "We certainly have moral compasses. We have that moral ability to stand up and to engage with world leaders on this."
In the Senedd
In the Senedd on Tuesday, First Minister Eluned Morgan said the situation in Gaza was "extremely grave" and it was "incumbent on all of us to draw attention to the dire situation and the extreme approach that is being taken there, in particular when it comes to preventing food from getting to the people in those areas".Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar criticised the livestream on BBC iPlayer of Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, whose singer was broadcast saying "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]" and for Palestine to be free "from the river to the sea".Millar said leaders of the Jewish community in Wales told him many were "extremely distressed and fearful" as a result of the scenes at Glastonbury.He claimed the words were "repeated at a protest that was attended by Labour and Plaid MSs" on Tuesday.The Tory Senedd leader criticised the attendance of the MSs that went and invited Morgan to condemn the chants and the BBC for broadcasting them.Morgan said: "I'm very clear that it is not right to stir up hatred against any community, and it frankly, it's illegal, which is why there is a police inquiry going on at the moment."The phrase "river to the sea" refers to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean, which critics of the chant argue is anti-Semitic and implicitly calls for the destruction of Israel. The PSC and other activists have contested this, saying the slogan refers to "the right of all Palestinians to freedom, equality and justice".A spokesman for PSC Cymru, which organised the demonstration, said they were not aware that any of the chants were made and said they were concerned that Millar's claims would "shift the story from Gaza"."We are a mainstream organisation that does not promote violence," the spokesman said.
Later, Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt told the Senedd that the Welsh government continues to "call for a lift on the aid blockade to Gaza".She issued a statement after meeting an official from the UN Palestinian aid agency, Unrwa, which has been banned from operating in Israel."Unrwa should be supported and empowered to carry out its mandate," she wrote.