Pro-Palestine supporters gather in Ludlow for demonstration

More than 50 people gathered with their Palestinian flags and placards, next to the town's open air market as Israel Gaza war continues.

The demonstration was called by Radnor Palestine Links.

A spokesperson for the group heaped criticism on the UK Government for its actions so far.

"Over 27,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, more than 66,000 are wounded and many more unknown are still under the rubble," the spokesperson said.

Demonstrators in Ludlow protesting the Israel Gaza war (Image: Radnor Palestine Links)

"Almost 2 million undernourished, cold and terrified Palestinians, who were forced by invading Israeli soldiers to shelter in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, are now being bombed. There is nowhere safe in Gaza for any Palestinian, and yet the UK is still sending weapons and military assistance to Israel."

The spokesperson said the UK has "shamefully" recently stopped supporting UNRWA.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees sacked a number of its staff in Gaza suspected of taking part in the October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants on southern Israel, its director said in January.

Ludlow local Jenny Sayer said she was taking part in the demonstration to support the people of Gaza. 

"As a Quaker I am concerned about UK complicity in selling arms to Israel," she said.

Fellow protester Daniel McDowell, from Ludlow, said he opposed the "huge injustice of Israel's claims to Palestinian land and rights"

Glenys Nash, also from Ludlow, said she was mourning "the slaughter of innocents".

At the end of the demonstration, some of the protesters marched around the centre of Ludlow with their flags.

The group is planning weekly demonstrations, which the spokesperson said are set to get larger and larger, in various towns.

The next, on Saturday, February 10, will take place in Presteigne, home to Teledyne, which the group said is a local factory supplying military components.