Pro-Palestine campaigners call for Gaza ceasefire on New Year’s Eve | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Activists are asking folks to show the New 12 months’s countdown of their international locations right into a countdown for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Activists have launched a worldwide marketing campaign asking folks to show the New 12 months’s countdown of their international locations right into a countdown for a ceasefire in Gaza, which has been below devastating Israeli bombardment since October 7.

“New 12 months’s Eve is a second of celebration worldwide, and a possibility to create resolutions for a brighter future. With almost 30,000 civilians killed, together with over 10,000 youngsters, our solely New 12 months’s decision is to name for a everlasting ceasefire,” Countdown2Ceasefire, a London-based grassroots marketing campaign, mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.

“Our goal is to morph the standard New 12 months’s countdown into an influential and resounding countdown for a everlasting ceasefire in Gaza.”

Thus far the marketing campaign has efficiently been embraced by activists in over 30 international locations, together with Switzerland, Turkiye, Malaysia, Australia, Tanzania, Mexico and Germany, based on the organisers.

Whereas ringing within the new 12 months, these native occasions calling for a ceasefire might be livestreamed throughout Countdown2ceasefire’s social media platforms.

“A everlasting ceasefire is step one in ending the present deplorable state of affairs and a tangible transfer in direction of a future the place traumatised communities can rebuild and recuperate,” Bushra Mohammad, a marketing campaign spokeswoman, mentioned in an announcement.

Israel’s brutal army offensive in Gaza has killed greater than 21,500 folks and wounded greater than 55,000 others triggering a worldwide outrage, with protesters internationally rallying to name for a ceasefire. Many have additionally expressed their disappointment in direction of politicians and international locations who vetoed or abstained from voting for a ceasefire on the United Nations.

Rights organisations together with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty Worldwide and Docs With out Borders additionally condemned international locations vetoing a ceasefire, warning that this may lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Israel has refused to cease the bombing that has destroyed greater than 70 p.c of Gaza houses and displaced greater than 90 p.c of the enclave’s 2.3 million folks.

Countdown2Ceasefire identified how folks energy could make a distinction.

“As we enter 2024, we stay up for it being the 12 months that our New 12 months’s decision, of a everlasting ceasefire in Gaza, is fulfilled.”