Stop the War coalition newsletter, 03/10/25

Newsletter 03/10/25

‘All to London for 11 October’  Read our Chair Alex Kenny explain why this demonstration is so important. 

We will be assembling at 12 noon, marching from Victoria Embankment across two bridges (Westminster and Waterloo) and ending on Whitehall for the rally. 

This weekend and all next week we are calling on our supporters to help build the demo by leafleting your local stations, shops, cafes and universities. And don’t forget to display our poster in your window. 

Leaflets & posters can be ordered from the office or downloaded from the resources page on our website.

Trump’s Gaza ultimatum

Trump’s peace plan, announced with considerable fanfare on Monday, is more ultimatum than peace deal. Before Hamas has even responded Netanyahu publicly pushed back, emphatic Israel will neither fully withdraw from Gaza nor allow a Palestinian state.

There’s widespread derision about Trump’s half-baked plan, which has a new form of occupation at its core. Meanwhile, the IDF are tightening the siege around Gaza City, and announced those who remain will be treated as “terrorists and supporters of terror”. There seems little chance this plan can bring peace. The hell promised by Trump if Hamas fails to agree to his plan has already descended. 

Gazans need an immediate ceasefire, but for all his posturing Trump is not stopping Israel’s war, while Starmer and the Labour government continue to be complicit. At the Labour conference this week Chancellor Rachel Reeve’s said, “as long as I am in the cabinet, as long as I am Chancellor of the Exchequer, I will always stand up for Israel.”

This is why we say all to London for Saturday 11 October.

Welfare not Warfare

International Conference Against War – Paris

This week EU leaders met in Copenhagen to work out how best to support Ukraine and boost defence spending. Macron has already declared Europe is in conflict with Russia, and the Danish prime minister called Ukraine Europe’s “first line of defence”. The continent is marching to war.

Across Europe new austerity measures are being imposed while arms spending is soaring. No wonder people are taking to the streets in anger. In France, Italy and Greece there have been general strikes and mass protests against the new austerity, military spending and the Gaza genocide. 

In France unions and grassroots groups demonstrated across the country on Thursday in the second ‘Block Everything’ protest in two weeks. Demonstrators waved Palestine flags and placards with anti-war messages – one banner read ‘Money for University, not for the army.’

In Italy there was a second general strike today (3 Oct) in solidarity with the international aid flotilla, while protests sprang up in a number of cities late on Wednesday after the flotilla was intercepted by Israel.

Greece saw its third general strike of the year on Wednesday. Palestine and anti-war slogans were part of the demands from the streets.

Over the weekend we will be joining thousands of activists heading to Paris for the international conference against war and the genocide of the Palestinian people. There will be delegations from 18 countries. Our message will be clear: wages not weapons, welfare not warfare.

The main conference takes place on Sunday at 12:30 and will be live streamed on our YouTube channel and on X. Click on the buttons below to watch.

Workplace Day of Action for Palestine – Thursday 9 October

On 9 October we are holding the next workplace day of action. Do what you can and encourage your workmates to get involved. Use the day to reach out to friends and colleagues not previously involved in the Palestine movement and mobilise for the 11th.

Don’t forget to let us know your plans and make sure that you take pictures and videos for social media (#Workplaces4Palestine) on the day.

This week’s anti-war briefing