SOAS Students' Union

Although new beginnings are important, remembering why people call for justice is essential.

Atrocities have existed throughout history, if there is a possibility to solve problems older than Civilisation they exist here and now. So please comment while trying not to make this into a YoutTube bickering thread. In other words, please comment in the sincerest way possible while adhering to the simple Open Dialouge guidelines

 ’Share, create & complain. Try not to glare, alienate & restrain!’

Be aware these pictures show some of the children that were killed during the attack.

A picture shows an Israeli strike over a UN school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip early on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MOPHAMMED ABED (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

Palestinian civilians and medics run to safety during an Israeli strike over a UN school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip early on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED ABED (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

A man escapes following an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia in the northern part of the Gaza Strip on January 17, 2009 . A woman and a child were killed early on Saturday in an Israeli strike on a UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED ABED (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

A Palestinian man tries to extinguish a fire following an Israeli strike over a UN school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip early on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED ABED (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

A Palestinian UN workers tries to extinguish a fire following an Israeli strike over a UN school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip early on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED ABED
(Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

BEIT LAHIA, GAZA STRIP – JANUARY 17: Homeless Palestinian man collect burnt bread, onion and tomatos from a burnt classroom at a United Nations school after it was hit by Israeli shelling on January 17, 2009 in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. Israeli Troops carried out a further 50 air strikes in Gaza overnight as the prospect of a cease-fire draws closer. Reports suggest that Israeli artillery targeted another UN school in northern Gaza where refugees sheltered, killing least two people. (Photo by Abid Katib/Getty Images)

A Palestinian man reacts at the burnt classroom of the UN-run school that was hit earlier today by an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2009. United Nations officials today demanded an investigation into a new Israeli strike on a UN-run school in Gaza, which killed a woman and a child in the fourth such attack during its war on Hamas. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

A Palestinian UN workers inspects the debris in a classroom after an Israeli strike over a UN school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip early on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

A Palestinian UN worker inspects a classroom following an Israeli strike over a UN school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip early on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

The shoe of a child is seen on blood stains in a classroom at the UN school that was hit earlier today by an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2009. United Nations officials today demanded an investigation into a new Israeli strike on a UN-run school in Gaza, which killed a woman and a child in the fourth such attack during its war on Hamas. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

Palestinian children, who fled their houses with their families during Israel’s offensive, survey the damage after Israeli tank fire killed two boys at a U.N.-run school in the northern Gaza Strip January 17, 2009. Israeli tank fire killed two boys at a U.N.-run school in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, not six people as previously reported, a U.N. official said. An Israeli army spokesman said he was checking the report. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

BEIT LAHIA, GAZA STRIP – JANUARY 17: A homeless girl gathers belongings beside patches of blood at a United Nations school after it was hit by Israeli shelling on January 17, 2009 in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. Israeli Troops carried out a further 50 air strikes in Gaza overnight as the prospect of a ceasfire draws closer. Reports suggest that Israeli artillery targeted another UN school in northern Gaza where refugees sheltered, killing least two people. (Photo by Abid Katib/Getty Images)

BEIT LAHIA, GAZA STRIP – JANUARY 17: Homeless Palestinian men stand in a burnt classroom at a United Nations school after it was hit by Israeli shelling on January 17, 2009 in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. Israeli Troops carried out a further 50 air strikes in Gaza overnight as the prospect of a cease-fire draws closer. Reports suggest that Israeli artillery targeted another UN school in northern Gaza where refugees sheltered, killing least two people. (Photo by Abid Katib/Getty Images)

The body of the child (top) killed during Israeli strikes over the UN-run school is pictured along with bodies of two other children killed during strikes in the morgue of Kamal Edwan hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

Mourners stand near the bodies of Palestinians killed during Israel’s offensive, during their funeral in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip January 17, 2009. Israeli tank fire killed two small boys sheltering at a United Nations school in Gaza on Saturday and Hamas vowed to fight on until Israel meets its demands, suggesting it will ignore any unilateral Israeli ceasefire. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

Palestinians mourn over the bodies of three children, wrapped in Fatah party���s flags, after they were killed by Israeli fire in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2009. Israel battered Gaza with new strikes today, as it was poised to unilaterally halt a 22-day-old war on Hamas that has killed nearly 1,200 Palestinians and left much of the enclave in ruins.But Hamas vowed that it would fight on if the Israeli security cabinet orders a unilateral ceasefire insisting that Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza as part of a reciprocal truce. AFP PHOTO /YASSER SAYMEH (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

The head of the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) in Gaza, John Ging (R), visits the UN school that was hit earlier today by an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2009. A woman and a child were killed early today in the Israeli strike on the UN-run school in northern Gaza where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, medics and witnesses said. Fierce clashes were underway around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian militants, they said. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

On Friday, 6th November, pro-Palestinian activists carried out the first of what was to be three consecutive days of blockading at Carmel Agrexco’s depot in Hayes, Middlesex. The action saw a coalition of students from Kings, UCL, SOAS and Goldsmiths, saw members from Anachists Against the Wall and the International Solidarity Movement as well as other independent activists and individuals come together to implement the blockades. Each lasted a number of hours and sought to address not only Agrexco, but to emphasise to the companies that obtain their goods from Carmel, that they should consider alternative suppliers.

The activists seek to raise awareness of the UK’s continued role in the purchase of goods produced in Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank as well as Carmel Agrexco’s role in the sustenance of Israel’s illegal expansionist activities in Palestine. The blockaders have urged companies dependent on Carmel Agrexco’s supplies, and therefore inconvenienced by this and previous blockades, to seek out new suppliers and, in so doing, show that Carmel Agrexco’s continued support for Israel’s aggression in Palestine will not be allowed to continue.

At 6am on Friday the 6th November the first blockade was implemented. Having constructed cages from temporary fencing, protestors D-locked themselves inside and positioned themselves themselves to block the two access roads to the depot. It was only fifteen minutes later that not only were police arriving onto the scene, but also the first lorry that was to be obstructed from enterring the premises.

The blockade held well initially however Carmel found a way of bringing goods out to the waiting truck using forklifts, thus circumventing the blockade. Despite efforts by support protestors to stand in front of the forklift trucks, and a to prevent the continuing effort by Carmel, the company managed to succesfully fill the lorry and continue its business. Their success was not to last long however, with blockaders managing an impressive feat of trickery to manoevre the fence panels into a line to block the entire entrance. Despite this success, Carmel decided to close their gates, locking inside blockaders and four supporters. Police had supporters released whilst the blockaders were left trapped inside. Although this was initially still a calm state of affairs, as the eighth hour of blockading approached, Carmel workers started to become aggressive and began making physical and verbal threats to the blockaders trapped inside as well as to the supporters. The two policemen present ignored their duty of care, failed to prevent the aggression and similarly did not ask the Carmel staff to open their gates to be let in to offer any protection to those physically attatched to the fences by their necks. They claimed Carmel had the right to use “reasonable force” to remove those on Carmel land, inicating when questioned that breaking their necks was consistent with “reasonable force”. As the aggression escalated and the safety of those trapped became a serious issues with five Carmel staff at liberty to encircle and intimidate the blockaders, keys finally became available for those inside to be released.

The first blockade ended after more than 8 hours with no arrests and fortunately no injuries.

The second blockade was implemented at 5:30am on Saturday the 7th of November using a concrete lock-on on one gate and temporary fencing at the second. Police decided to focus on the concrete lock-on and after three hours and with no consultation to the nature of the lock-on, police decided to move the blockaders in absolute ignorance of their duty of care and to the great distress and pain of the two blockaders attached. Despite significant risk of breaking someones arm, the police falsely claimed they had no access to suitable “cutting teams” and moved the blockaders. Both blockaders were arrested and charged with obstruction of the highway, whilst a third protestor was arrested for obstructing a police officer. All were released by the early evening bailed to be in court on the 16th November, the blockade having lasted a total of nearly 5 hours.

The final day of action saw a public call out for demonstrators to arrive at 12pm. Despite no use of locks, protestor presence managed to prevent the company functioning for over three hours with protestors standing infront of the lorry attempting to enter. Eventually two protestors were arrested under s.14 of the public order act, charged and released later that day due to attend court on the 17th November. The final blockade lasted over 3 hours.

The actions saw a scaling up of the pressure upon Carmel to stop its business practices and to pressure other companies that use Carmel as their supplier to consider other options. This effort is one of a series of blockades that have been taking place since 2004 when the first effort saw their case of aggravated trespass go to court and eventually dropped midway due to the amount of disclosure Carmel were having to expose regarding their business practices and the exploitation and confiscation of Palestinian lands. Since then a number of blockades have seen rubble, manure, protests and other actions block the company and prevent it from functioning.

Carmel Agrexco is a 50% Israeli state owned company which manages the export of approximately 60% of all Settlement agricultural produce. Israeli settlements are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and further more the International Court of Justice ruled in 2004 that they are illegal. The sale of this produce within the UK facilitates the violation of the Geneva conventions of which the UK is a signatory.