People of all faiths reflect on Gaza conflict one year on at Birmingham peace vigil

The conflict has expanded into military strikes on Lebanon, Syria and Yemen in the last year

Muslims, Jews and Christians gathered for a peace vigil to mark one year since the Israel-Gaza conflict. The event took place yesterday (October 7) in Birmingham City Centre outside Waterstones.

Attendees paid tribute to over 41,000 people killed in the Palestine strip so far. Jewish rabbis attended from London along with political activist Salma Yaqoob. Black Country artist Vik Chandla, who raised hundreds over the weekend for Gaza, shaved his beard and hair in a livestream for the event.

The war in the Gaza Strip sparked from the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7 last year, where hundreds of Israelis were killed. Since then the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) have carried out sustained attacks within the Gaza strip, forcing residents to flee.

At the vigil, Muslim leaders were joined by Jewish rabbis and Christian representatives. The group read the names of some of the thousands of civilians who have been killed as a result of Israeli bomb attacks, including children, health workers and journalists.

A minute's silence was also observed as a mark of respect, as speakers shared their reflections of solidarity, prayer and peace. Anti-war activists, artists, poets and academics also attended, along with health workers from across the region.

Israel's attack on Gaza has since spread into the West Bank and wider Palestine, and expanded into military strikes on Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, while escalating tension between Israel and Iran.

The event was coordinated by humanitarian organisation ISRA-UK, who have been delivering aid programmes in Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen for several decades. It was also supported by the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition, West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain and Jewish group Neturei Karta.

Saraya Hussain, managing director of ISRA-UK, said: "The mood was sombre as people came together to remember one thing, the people of Gaza and Israel who have been killed. The death toll in Gaza is over 42,000 now.

"It is not new as the people of Palestine, specifically Gaza, have endured suffering for decades and normally had incursions that lasted weeks. This time it's been happening for a full year.

"Tens of thousands of people have been murdered since October last year through military airstrikes on an already densely packed population. Displaced communities have once again become refugees on their own land.

"Access to humanitarian aid has been denied, diseases are spreading and bloodshed continues. We are calling for an end to this, people are awake to it now.

"People from all walks of life came under one banner of humanity. We are desperately calling for a ceasefire."

Black Country artist Vik Chandla shaved his head in solidarity with Gaza and is fundraising. His Sikh faith prevented him from cutting his hair for 10 years, however the Gaza plight was just as important he claims.

He said: "I heard mothers having to shave their kids heads in Palestine thanks to lack of water. It is an act of solidarity as I grew my hair for spiritual reasons but this is more important.

"I am aiming to raise £1,000 and people are still donating. This war has been going on and this is the last stand of colonialism, but this time the whole world is watching.

"I am hoping by doing this we raise awareness, we can do small donations or boycott corporations and thereby affect policy." You can donate to Vik's JustGiving page here.