Waveney Valley MP, Adrian Ramsay, joins Diss rally calling for peace

Protestors took to the streets of Diss to protest at Israel’s incursion into Gaza – and were joined by the area’s new MP.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who was elected to represent Waveney Valley in July’s general election, joined the silent rally in Market Place.

Jacob Ecclestone, who has been taking part in the weekly protests since February, said Mr Ramsay’s presence was welcomed.

“I was very pleased that Adrian came,” he said. “It shows both his integrity and his concern for peace, which is the overriding factor here.

“There was a sense of relief that, at last, people in this area have an MP who is concerned with the lives of ordinary people, whether they are in Britain or in Palestine.”

Having met each week since the end of last year, protesters have been demanding an end to hostilities, which erupted on October 7 when a group of Hamas fighters stormed the Israeli border, killing 1,300 people, including women and children.

Since then, attacks have escalated, including on July 27, when a blast hit a playing field in Majdal Shams, killing 12 children and young people.

On the same day, Israel’s military struck a school near Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, which they believed had a Hamas command and control centre inside it.

This strike killed around 30 Palestinians and injured more than 100, according to the Hamas-run ministry of health.

The weekly vigils in Diss attract between 20 and 25 people.

Mr Ecclestone said: “Everybody who comes is calling for a ceasefire; an end to the killing.

“We have probably had around 100 different people attend. It really is astounding that a little place like Diss can have such a profound and consistent demonstration like this.”

Anyone wishing to join should meet in Diss Market Place at 10am on a Saturday.