A peace march, welcoming people of all faiths, is scheduled to take place in London this Sunday. Its purpose is to alleviate the animosity and strain caused by the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The midday march from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square and back is one of a series of events due to be held in the next few days and weeks in solidarity with people affected by conflict in Israel and Palestine. Gatherings are also planned in Birmingham and Oxford.
Together for Humanity, supported by a coalition of charities, community organisations and faith groups, is coordinating the events. The peace march in London is organised by Quakers in Britain and Plum Village UK, a Buddhist community.
Brendan Cox, co-founder of Together for Humanity, expressed the importance of providing a space for individuals of all beliefs, or lack thereof, to grieve for all civilians impacted by the conflict. He sees this as an opportunity to unite against discrimination towards both Jews and Muslims, and to demonstrate that the majority of people in the country are capable of showing compassion without prejudice.
On Sunday, The Oxford Foundation, a charity organization, will host an event at the Oxford town hall to honor the lives lost in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other conflicts globally.
Magen Inon, a teacher living in London whose parents Yakov and Bilha were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attack, is backing the events. “Since the murder of my parents, my family and I have felt immense pain,” he said. “This pain has been compounded by those who have sought to further division and spread hate here in the UK and elsewhere.
“I am inviting those who support the idea of all individuals having fundamental human rights to unite, as this will put us in a stronger position to discover a resolution to the conflict. It is a situation where either both sides emerge victorious, or everyone suffers a loss.”
During a peace demonstration held outside of Downing Street last December, Inon joined forces with Hamze Awawde, a peace advocate from Ramallah, Palestine. Inon emphasized the importance of acknowledging the pain and casualties experienced by both sides and urged for a resolution based on hope rather than fear and hostility.
According to Awawde, we have a responsibility to denounce and reject hatred towards both Islam and Judaism. We should also grieve for the innocent lives lost in the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, regardless of their religious backgrounds.
The sight of individuals from diverse beliefs and cultures uniting, not just in spite of their contrasts, but because of them, gives me a strong sense of optimism that we can strive for a lasting harmony.
Source: theguardian.com
