Candlelight vigil for innocent victims of war crimes

Event has been organised by the Manx branch of Amnesty International 

The Isle of Man branch of Amnesty International will hold a candlelight vigil tonight (6 October).

It says it's ‘for Gaza and all innocent victims of war crimes against humanity in the region’.

The event will take place in the amphitheatre area near to the Sefton Hotel, in Douglas, between 6pm and 7.30pm.

Music, poems, readings and speeches will be followed by a silent vigil.

Everyone is welcome to attend; in the event of bad weather it will be moved to the Promenade Church on Loch Promenade.

Amnesty Isle of Man Chair Phil Matthews says: "Since the Hamas attack on 7 October last year the atrocities unleashed on the civilian population of Gaza have been unprecedented in modern history and the majority of the international community have condemned the actions taken by the Israeli government and the Israeli Defence Force. 

"There have been weekly vigils held in most major cities in the British Isles but this is the first one to take place in the Isle of Man.

“This is an opportunity for Island residents to reflect and bear witness to the extreme loss of civilian life in the region over the past year and to show solidarity with the millions advocating for an end to the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent people most of whom are women and children. 

"The innocent victims also include Israeli citizens and those taken hostage by Hamas. 

"It also comes at a time when the conflict has now escalated to include the killing of more innocent people in the illegally occupied West Bank and in Lebanon."