PALESTINE campaigners wrapped the Senedd in banners today with the names of 20,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

The Naming the Dead banners were the brainchild of Bristol-based campaigners including Alice Oswald.

She said: “Every one of the names on these banners represents a human being whose life has been cut short by the ongoing campaign. 

“We all need to take time to reflect upon and honour the memories of the tens of thousands of individuals whose names appear on these banners.

“But those responsible to any degree need to be confronted by the names and feel the connection between their actions and the human beings they have helped to kill.

“The genocide in Gaza is supported by our politicians, our arms factories and much of our media.”

Ms Oswald called on all members of the Senedd to see the people behind these names and to act as they would if each one represented a member of their own family.

Palestine Community Wales member Sumayya Ahmed told the hundreds outside the Senedd that there were so many dead that it had denied them being properly grieved.

“We want to mark those names here today and pay tribute to their lives, stories and families because they existed,” she said.

“There are 20,000 names listed here but there are thousands more that need to be added to the list.”

She called on Senedd members to set up aid convoys to Gaza and to go themselves to deliver aid to those starving and demanded the Welsh government do more to help.

Stop the War Cymru co-chair Libby Nolan said: “The death toll in Gaza is unbearable, with over 36,000 Palestinians killed. 

“We are taking our protest at the horrors being committed by Israel to the Senedd where we will be Naming the Dead to help remember the names of each person.

“We fear that Israel will launch a ground invasion of Rafah, which, with the high numbers of refugees already there, will have devastating consequences. 

“We call for an immediate ceasefire.”

The Senedd voted for a motion proposed by Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth calling for an immediate ceasefire on November 8 last year.