Worldwide, militant mass actions were held on October 5 and 6 to mark the one-year anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood carried out by the Palestinian Resistance.

Hundreds of thousands throughout the globe were demonstrating in countless towns and cities. These actions affirmed that one year after the act of resistance on October 7, 2023, and after one year of the genocidal US/Zionist war on Gaza, that is now expanding to Lebanon, the peoples will not be intimidated or stopped from speaking out for Palestine and its right to be. They affirmed the Palestinian people's right to resist and liberate themselves from occupation.

In London on October 5, 300,000 people marched to Downing Street, denouncing Britain's complicity in the US/Israeli war crimes. Marching from Russell Square and Bedford Square, some were holding Lebanese and Iranian flags and banners stating: "We do not stand with genocide" and "Zionism is racism", with many chanting: "Free, free Palestine." People were very determined and organised, with people marching in their blocs, such as the Jewish bloc, with Jews against Genocide and other groups. There was also a Palestine Solidarity Campaign bloc, as well as others, with huge contingents joining each. Many had their own personal placards, and there were banners from Lewisham and other parts of London, as well as from Birmingham, Manchester, and many other parts of England, as well as from Scotland and Wales.

In Whitehall, a rally was held with eloquent speeches, including from the former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf. Mr Yousaf is reported as saying: "I am here very simply because in almost a year, just shy of 365 days, we've seen a complete and abject failure of moral leadership from the UK Government. They continue to send arms to the Israeli government that has, of course, committed war crime after war crime and the fact that the international community has failed so badly means we don't have a ceasefire, the massacres continue, hostages continue to be kept captive. So I'm here to join what looks like millions here on the streets of London to say enough is enough."

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said that the marches were a necessary mechanism for "ending tyranny and oppression". Lindsey German, Jeremy Corbyn and other speakers spoke most passionately about the rights of the Palestinian people.

The sentiment of the marchers was at one with the resistance, as was evident from the banners and slogans. Broad sections of people from all walks of life, including families, participated, and it was noticeable that even being in a wheelchair did not prevent people from joining.

Actions were also held in other cities including Manchester and Dublin in Ireland.

In Edinburgh, thousands of people joined a similar demonstration, which included a silent march to commemorate all civilians killed. That event was organised by Scottish Friends of Palestine and the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee.

People from across Wales marched through Cardiff. The "Britain Stop Arming Israel" protest assembled on Churchill Way in Cardiff city centre. It called for the UK government to take meaningful action to secure an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, including an arms embargo and sanctions on Israel.

The people are not going to stop their actions, and they stand firm with the Palestinian people and the resistance, expressing the sentiment, "We Are All Palestinians!"

London

Edinburgh, Scotland



Dublin, Ireland

Several sources have carried out thorough investigation into the US/Zionist accounts of what took place during the Palestinian Resistance's Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7, 2023. They present irrefutable evidence that the US/Zionist account used to justify the Israeli atrocities against the people of Gaza and now also the West Bank and Lebanon is disinformation based on a flagrant lie. It is designed to present the Resistance fighters as terrorists and the Israelis as victims. In some cases, both are presented as committing crimes for which they deserve to be punished.

Despite the irrefutable evidence that those accounts are based on lies, the countries which make up a genocide cartel including the US, Britain, Germany and, of course, Israel, among others, carry on repeating them with no sense of shame. This is because they can, but it does them no good. In the past year their Zionist narrative has contributed to their own isolation and lack of credibility while it also provides evidence of their complicity with the US/Zionist genocide. In this regard, it has given rise to the consciousness that they must be held to account.

The reports on what took place on October 7, 2023, do raise one of the lessons that those who support the justice of the Palestinian cause have learned in the past year of the Al-Aqsa Flood. In reporting on and discussing the events which took place that day, it is important not to make an equivalence between a military operation of the forces engaged in resistance to occupation which does not target civilian forces and the activities of the occupiers for whom civilians are fair game. Deaths which occurred on October 7 when the resistance fighters defended themselves cannot be compared or put on par with the brutal deaths at the hands of the Zionist soldiers under orders to kill everything that moved.

Actions of resistance forces which have a political aim are legal and justified under international law. The actions of the occupiers are illegal and cannot be justified under any law worthy of the name. To put the actions of resistance forces on a par with actions of the occupiers whose aim is to perpetuate the occupation, eradicate the resistance and, even more, commit genocide against an entire people, reveals a liberal bias. It is based on the outlook of the genocide cartel of countries which considers resistance tantamount to terrorism. Reporting based on this outlook conciliates with those who say the actions of the occupiers are in self-defence which provides them with impunity.

The aim of discussion and reporting must be to contribute to getting to the heart of the matter. In the case of the Al-Aqsa Flood launched on October 7, 2023, most important to an informed discussion is the account provided by the Resistance Forces themselves about the aim of the mission. A warranted conclusion which can be drawn from what took place that day is that it was a very bold and courageous action by the Palestinian Resistance Movement and forces not to permit the status quo imposed by the big powers on the Palestinian people to continue. For years and years the Palestinian people have been abandoned and forgotten, left to die, while the US and Israel commit genocide against them so as to realise their plan of a Greater Israel. The Al-Aqsa Flood Operation broke that status quo.

(TML In the News)

Human chain protest at UK's Royal Air Force base Akrotiri in Cyprus, September 29, 2024

Workers' Weekly reported in May on an article by Matt Kennard in Declassified which detailed that British spy planes had then recorded up to 1,000 hours of footage over Gaza in over 200 flights since December 3, 2023 [1]. All the British spy flights have taken off from RAF Akrotiri, the UK's sprawling air base on Cyprus.

More recently, a film Investigating War Crimes in Gaza, produced by the Investigative Unit (I-Unit) of Qatar-based news agency Al Jazeera was released on October 3, featuring reporting by Declassified UK about the Cyprus base.

Declassified UK is an independent news organisation that investigates "Britain's military and intelligence agencies, its most powerful corporations and its impact on human rights and the environment". It has done systematic work to uncover the use of the Cyprus Akrotiri base to conduct surveillance flights over Gaza, supply the weapons Israel is using to conduct its campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people, disrupt communications systems and more. Declassified UK's coverage provides more evidence of the direct involvement of Britain, the US and other countries in the commission of war crimes.

The "surveillance" flights over Gaza were supposedly undertaken to facilitate the rescue of Israeli captives. Around 100 flights have been reported since the Starmer Labour government took office in July 2024.

In the film Gaza, Matt Kennard of Declassified [2] argued that this aim to rescue captives "doesn't explain" the number of flights. There were "only two British hostages in Gaza ... There was up to 1,000 hours of [surveillance] footage by March."

The R1 Shadow planes that fly out of Akrotiri have offensive target acquisition capacity, Kennard points out. Kennard has carried out detailed investigation on the use of this airbase and demanded answers from British government and military officials.

Bill Van Esveld, the associate director for the Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch, explains why this information is pertinent.

"If you continue to know and continue to supply weapons and targeting information, if you're supplying targeting information, despite knowing what the result is, and the result is a gross human rights violation, then you also get to complicity, ... So, you know, the deniability that you're deeply involved in what's going on in Gaza begins to evaporate," Van Esveld says.

"When you start acting in a conflict to a level that the people on the ground who are doing the fighting are using your information as they fight," you may become "a party to the conflict," he further elaborates.

Al Jazeera's I-Unit asked the British government about its surveillance flights. It reports receiving the following answer: "The UK is not a participant in the conflict between Israel and Hamas ... As a matter of principle, we only provide intelligence to our allies where we are satisfied that it will be used in accordance with International Humanitarian Law ... Only information related to hostage rescue is passed to the Israeli authorities."

"Our priority remains achieving a ceasefire in Gaza so hostages can be released, civilians protected and aid flood in," it added. [3]

Notes
1. "UK military has flown 200 spy missions over Gaza in support of Israel", Workers' Weekly,
https://www.rcpbml.org.uk/wwie-24/ww24-10/ww24-10-03.htm
2. Matt Kennard is head of Investigations at Declassified UK. Matt is an investigative journalist and author. He was a fellow and then director at the Centre for Investigative Journalism in London. After receiving the Guardian's top student journalism prize, he went on to gain a masters at the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York, where he was a Stabile investigative fellow.
He then spent three years working as a staff writer for the Financial Times in London, New York, and Washington DC, covering, amongst other things, the Pentagon, the White House, Wall Street, and the City of London.
Matt has written extensively on the US military and its conduct during the War on Terror. His first book, Irregular Army, investigated the recruitment practices of the US military and exposed the carte blanche given to neo-Nazis, gang members and criminals to sign up and serve in the Middle East.
His second book, The Racket, is an exposé of the hidden instruments used by the US government to apply economic and military control across the world. His third book, Silent Coup, is an investigation of the secretive mechanisms through which transnational corporations run the world, and was released in 2023.
3. Al Jazeera's film can be viewed here:https://youtu.be/kPE6vbKix6A?feature=shared

On Sunday, September 29, Newcastle Stop the War Coalition held a successful Anti-War Assembly spanning two sessions. Session 1 was entitled Stop the genocide! Stop arming Israel! and session 2, No escalation of war! No to Islamophobia! Introducing the discussion in the first session was Alex Snowdon, an NEU rep based in Newcastle, and Jason Hussein, Vice Chair, Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Introducing the discussion in the second session was Roger Nettleship, Newcastle Stop the War, Mohammad Asif of Glasgow Stop the War, and Sweta Choudhury from the Stop the War Coalition. The meeting was chaired by both Tony Dowling and Dave McCallister.

In the context of the British government's support for the genocidal war in Gaza, the Anti-War Assembly concentrated on the renewal and rebuilding of the anti-war activities in the north-east. It further underlined the necessity for discussion on not only the heinous attacks by Israel on Lebanon, but on how the war in Ukraine is being escalated by the Anglo-US-led NATO alliance against Russia. Whilst the Assembly reaffirmed ongoing actions in standing with Palestine and Lebanon, it also discussed the necessity to further work to oppose the dangerous escalation of war in Ukraine that Britain is playing a leading role in alongside the US. For further details and audio of speeches, see http://www.northeaststopwar.org.uk/reportsindex.html

Michael Chant, representing the RCPB(ML) gave evidence to Tranche 2 of the UCPI on July 10, 2024

The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) on October 4, 2024, published on its website a report on its representing three core participants at Tranche 2 Part 1 of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI): the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), represented by its General Secretary Kate Hudson; Michael Chant of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (RCPB(ML)); and Lindsey German, current convenor of the Stop the War Coalition and a former leading member of the Socialist Workers Party.

The article explains: "The UCPI was established in 2015 to scrutinise the actions of undercover police officers, particularly the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), which infiltrated numerous political organisations. These undercover officers (UCO) were embedded within groups like CND, the RCPB(ML), and the Socialist Workers Party, often for extended periods. The inquiry has uncovered that SDS operations went far beyond standard policing, veering into the realm of political repression and interference."

It continues: "Tranche 2 Part 1 of the UCPI covers the period from 1983 to 1992. It focuses on the actions of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) during this time, examining how undercover officers infiltrated political and activist groups.

"The UCPI investigates the covert surveillance of political parties, trade unions and campaign groups by the British state, revealing disturbing practices of political policing that have undermined civil liberties, democracy, the right to organise and campaign."

Furthermore: "The groups represented by the PILC were all engaged in legitimate political activities: CND campaigned against nuclear weapons; the RCPB(ML) advocated Marxist-Leninist ideas; and the Socialist Workers Party promoted socialist ideals. Despite this, UCOs were deployed to infiltrate and even destabilise these organisations."

The PILC explains that the state's "tactics were not just a matter of gathering intelligence-they were aimed at disrupting political dissent". It draws the conclusion: "In a democratic society, individuals and groups must be free to express their views, organise politically, and challenge the state without fear of surveillance or sabotage. The UCPI has shone some light on how the British state's covert actions violated these basic principles, raising urgent questions about accountability, civil rights, and the proper limits of state power."

Core Participants gave evidence

PILC writes: "Michael Chant, representing the RCPB(ML) gave evidence to Tranche 2 of the UCPI on July 10, 2024. His testimony focused on the infiltration and disruption of his organisation by UCOs during the period covered by the tranche. It was infiltrated by 'Malcolm Shearing' cover name of officer HN19.

"Kate Hudson, the General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), gave evidence to the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) during Tranche 2 on July 15, 2024.

"Kate's testimony focused on the extensive infiltration and surveillance of CND by undercover police officers, which was part of the broader political policing efforts targeting left-wing and activist organisations.

"At this stage we definitely know that CND was infiltrated by 'John Kerry', 'Lee Bonser' and 'Timothy Spence.' We can only assume multiple officers and security service agents infiltrated and monitored the organisation.

"Finally, Lindsey German, formerly a leading member of the SWP, gave evidence on July 11, 2024. Her testimony focused on the infiltration of the SWP by undercover officers and the impact this had on the organisation and its political activities - particular evidence focused on spurious allegations from UCOs further to the demonstration against the BNP at Welling in south London."

Michael Chant had concluded his evidence to the UCPI by emphasising that among the lessons of this historical period is that in the present the interference in the political affairs of the people should banished from the way the state works. Those involved in "undercover policing", up to the highest levels, should be held accountable for their roles.

For the full article, with links to all the evidence given by the Core Participants as videos, see: https://www.pilc.org.uk/news/political-policing-and-democracy-the-undercover-policing-inquiry-and-the-fight-for-accountability/

Tata Steel, Port Talbot

Tata Steel has ceased virgin steel production at its Port Talbot plant, marking what is being called the end of an era for traditional steelmaking in South Wales. The final blast furnace was shut down on September 30, 2024, a decision that will impact thousands of workers and devastate the local community - a decision in which those workers and their community have played no part.

Tata Steel, which owns the plant, is to replace its traditional blast furnaces with a £1.25 billion electric arc furnace facility. The Abbey Works, where steel has been made for over 70 years, has now ceased producing virgin steel, as the company shifts its focus to recycling scrap metal, in a move that will require far fewer workers. Now that Blast Furnace 4, the last operational blast furnace, has been shut down, some 2,800 jobs have been eliminated [1]. The plant had employed half of Tata Steel's British workforce, which stood at 8,000. With nearly 4,000 direct jobs at risk and additional indirect roles in jeopardy, concerns of widespread economic devastation are mounting in Port Talbot.

What is being pushed by Tata and the media is that this devastation is an advance because the old method of production involved fossil fuels, while the proposed production does not and is therefore "greener". In 2023, the then government offered Tata a £500 million pay-the-rich scheme greenwashed as a subsidy package to aid in the transition to low-carbon steel production. The conclusion can be drawn that Tata's move to shut down operations and shift to electric arc furnaces is in part a strategic attempt to pressure the British government into providing yet more financial support to improve its rate of return.

Tata justifies the closure by pointing out that Port Talbot is losing £1 million daily. But workers create enormous new value in producing this critical basic material. This new value is primarily appropriated by the owners of capital, including Tata's debt and equity owners. Tata bought the plants at a low price and accumulated vast sums from the value created by its labour force. [2]

It is clear, however, that Tata is treating Port Talbot as a pawn in its global strategy, while pushing significant expansion in both India and the Netherlands. In India, the company has set the goal of doubling its steel production capacity to 40 million tonnes per year by 2030. A key part of this strategy is the development of its Kalinganagar facility in Odisha, where Tata Steel has commissioned the largest blast furnace in the country. This comes as part of a 270bn rupee (£2.4bn) expansion project that will boost the plant's capacity from 3 million tonnes per annum to 8 million tonnes. The enhanced production will enable Tata Steel to meet increasing demand across industries such as automotive, infrastructure, power, shipbuilding, as well as military production. The company is also investing heavily in its IJmuiden plant in the Netherlands. [3] It is noteworthy that, while the new electric arc furnace at Port Talbot is scheduled to be operational by 2027, in the interim, Tata will import semi-finished steel slabs from India and the Netherlands to meet demand. The huge payout from the British government is revealed in this context as a pay the rich scheme aiding nothing but the monopoly's global expansion plans.

For the community of Port Talbot, steel is not just an industry - it is the economic lifeblood of the town. Generations of families have depended on the plant for jobs, and the town's identity is intertwined with steel production. Since Port Talbot's first blast furnace went into operation in 1902, the plant has weathered multiple crises, including the nationalisation and later privatisation of British Steel, which became Corus in 1999 before being acquired by Tata in 2007. Throughout this period, Port Talbot's workers have demonstrated remarkable resilience, battling against layoffs and closures.

"Today marks an incredibly sad and poignant day for the British steel industry and for the communities in and around Port Talbot which are so intricately connected to blast furnace steelmaking," said Community Union General Secretary Roy Rickhuss [4], declaring: "The closure of Blast Furnace 4 marks the end of an era, but this is not the end for Port Talbot. We will never stop fighting for the future for the steel industry and our communities in South Wales."

Labour's Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has spoken about the importance of addressing the foundations of the economy, including steel production. These words ring hollow in the face of this unilateral closure.

Likewise: "Good jobs and homes are the foundations of good lives and communities," said Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner when in opposition, "and it's a Labour government that will provide those foundations and build on them, whilst also empowering communities and local leaders to create strong, sustainable economies." [5] However, these events prove the vacuousness of this statement. Powerful private corporate interests, like those of Tata Steel, continue to trample public right into the ground. The closure of Port Talbot, driven by Tata's pursuit of profits, exposes how such interests take priority over the well-being of workers and the stability of local economies. Tata is simply abandoning the community after extracting maximum value, leaving workers and families to deal with the economic devastation that follows.

Such powerful competing private interests cannot offer solutions and instead destroy productive forces and skills. Only the working class holds the key to solving the problems. As Rickhuss pointed out, "it simply didn't have to be this way. Last year Community and GMB published a credible alternative plan for Port Talbot which would have avoided the need for compulsory redundancies and ensured a fair transition to green steelmaking for the workforce." That this plan was rejected outright by Tata, with all the consequences that are to follow, shows just how urgent it is that workers organise to end their marginalisation and to have the decisive say over the matters that affect their lives.

Notes
1. "Traditional steelmaking in Port Talbot ends", Huw Thomas and Paul Pigott, BBC News, September 29, 2024
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70zxjldqnxo
2. "The Tata oligopoly plans to destroy productive forces, while Port Talbot Steel workers demonstrate that enough is enough", Workers' Weekly, , February 10, 2024
https://rcpbml.org.uk/wwie-24/ww24-02/ww24-02-06.htm
3. "Why Tata Steel Shares Are Upbeat Today", Benzinga India, September 23, 2024
https://in.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40973311/why-tata-steel-shares-are-upbeat-today
4. "The end of an era: Blast furnace 4 closes at Port Talbot", Roy Rickhuss, September 30, 2024
https://community-tu.org/the-end-of-an-era-blast-furnace-4-closes-at-port-talbot/#497ccf1e
5. "Angela Rayner to set out Labour's vision of 'real life levelling up'", Alan Jones, Yahoo News, September 11, 2023
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/angela-rayner-set-labour-vision-213000455.html