Walk in solidarity with the people of Gaza

We are a group of Shetlanders, who have looked on in horror at the escalation of violence in Israel/Palestine since 7th October 2023.

On Saturday 23rd March, we’ll be walking 30 miles, a 15 hour journey from Sumburgh Lighthouse to Lerwick, the entire length of the South Mainland of Shetland, to raise funds for the relief of suffering in Gaza, and to support efforts in Israel to build peace, understanding and security for all.

Money we raise will be donated to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund and to the Green Olive Collective in Israel.

More than 10,000 children have been killed since the beginning of these atrocities, but many more have suffered life-changing injuries, both physical and psychological, which will need intensive medical care in the coming decades. The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund is an established and reputable organisation that is well placed to do this work.

Just as there is a huge amount of work that must be done to relieve the suffering of those in need, there is an equally large amount of work that must be done to change hearts and minds in Israel. In recent decades, Israelis have witnessed a dangerous surge in extreme right-wing politics, with government ministers now openly making racist and genocidal remarks against Palestinians. The Green Olive collective works within Israeli society to challenge this narrative, unchaining the minds of oppressors and building solidarity and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. Founded by Shetlander Fred Schlomka, Green Olive organises events, tours and cultural exchanges, and advocacy campaigns, enabling Israelis and Palestinians to discover a shared sense of humanity and foster respect for equality, democratic values and human rights, and an end to military occupation.

Shetland’s South Mainland is a similar size to the Gaza Strip; our journey is of a similar length to the treacherous route that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have had to make, often on foot, from Gaza City to the “safe zone” of Rafah, which is now threatened by an Israeli government ground offensive. We walk in solidarity with these people.

Please donate to our fundraiser, as little or as much as you can spare.

Thank you.