Campaigners in support of Palestinian people ramp up pressure against perceived BBC bias as well as the Israeli military action
Aberdeen is the latest Scottish city to mount protests against the Israel Defence Force’s (IDF) incursions into Gaza which has claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians.
Protests took place across the UK at the weekend in response to pressure to do more to help Palestinians in the region.
The protests were organised by Scottish Friends of Palestine, the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Stop the War Coalition Scotland.
There’s almost a policy where they don’t report the occupation, don’t report the blockade
However a protest in Aberdeen on Saturday centred on perceived pro-Israeli bias shown by the BBC with over 100 campaigners carrying pro-Palestinian Solidarity Campaign banners marching on the broadcaster’s offices in the city.
Organisers have vowed to continue protests in other cities in Scotland with plans for a protest in Dundee next week.
Glasgow has been scene of the biggest protests so far, with up to 1,500 turning out in Buchanan Street to coincide with the Aberdeen protest last Saturday.
Caroline Hjazi, 33, said the BBC’s coverage of the conflict had been “biased” in favour of Israel.
She said: “We are here to protest against the BBC and their consistent and systematic policy of reporting news in Palestine devoid of any context and any detail of the suffering that the Palestinians are going through.
“There’s almost a policy where they don’t report the occupation, don’t report the blockade.
“The BBC does not represent the views of the people who are here out on the streets expressing their outrage.
“Initiatives such as these might put pressure on their BBC and make them amend the way they report the news.”
The protesters read out the names of almost 300 Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip before holding a minute’s silence for the dead.
Organisers said they will step-up the campaign both against the BBC and in protests at the Israeli incursions in the region.
