Orgreave truth and Justice campaigners Kate Flannery (second from left) and Joe Rollin (far right) spent an afternoon at the camp with Sajar (left) and Lena (second from right)
A WEEK-LONG peace camp by two Palestinian women in Sheffield will end with a rally on Saturday.
The Justice Now Camp was established outside Sheffield town hall by Sahar Awadallah and Lena Mussa who live in the South Yorkshire city.
The women are calling on Sheffield Council to declare the city an “Israeli apartheid-free zone” and for local MPs to support calls for a ceasefire.
They are also calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to ethnic cleansing in Palestine and for the prosecution of British people who join the Israeli Defence Forces.
Sheffield was the first city in Britain to declare itself a South African apartheid-free zone during the days of the racist regime in South Africa, and also to declare itself a City of Sanctuary — one of many cities across Britain which seeks to build a welcoming community for refugees and asylum-seekers.
The women have been supported by Sheffield Palestine Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid.
Throughout the week they have been visited by dozens of supporters and groups including the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, clergy and Sheffield Jews Against Israeli Apartheid.
Well-wishers have supplied food, hot drinks and camping equipment.
Ms Awadallah said the support and the wider impact of the camp has been “a cause for celebration.”
Ms Mussa said the camp had “brought people together and given visitors a place to say what they have been feeling.”
In a joint statement, they asked: “Why are Palestinians and their plight for freedom and justice not met with the same acts of solidarity and support given to Ukraine or black people in South Africa?”
The rally takes place on Saturday at noon outside the town hall.
