Residents from across Fife gathered in Dunfermline on Saturday to show their support for the Palestinian people and to call for an end to the ongoing genocide, reports Andrew Watson

Crowds filled Dunfermline’s high street, as around 250 people marched with Palestinian flags and ‘Stop Starving Gaza’ placards, moving from Viewfield Terrace towards Guildhall Street. Families, students, trade unionists and local religious groups walked together past shoppers, under the Christmas lights. Despite the cold, the turnout was strong and the mood determined, with people of all ages joining the call for an end to the violence in Gaza.

Six weeks after a bogus ceasefire deal was struck on 10 October, we have seen repeated violations of the ceasefire by Israeli forces. Independent conflict monitors such as the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) have tracked the reality on the ground since the ceasefire was announced. On 7 November, they reported Israeli forces had conducted approximately 190 operations across Gaza, killing more than 230 Palestinians since 10 October.

Amara Arfan of Dunfermline Mosque spoke with Counterfire following the march. She said: ‘It feels like there is no justice for Palestinians. They don’t matter; their lives don’t matter. If governments can violate ceasefires again and again, if they’re not held to account – what does that say about us?’

In her speech, she added: ‘Children are being killed, and yet our politicians debate, delay and hesitate, because standing up for justice is inconvenient for them. They have used this war for alliances, for influence, for power, while human lives are being erased.

‘We have reached a point where my own father is scared of me speaking out. Not because he disagrees with me, but because of how people in this country have been treated simply for opposing genocide.

‘When a government creates fear around speaking up for human rights, something is deeply wrong.’

The government’s attempts to shut down certain direct-action groups through a contentious proscription – currently under judicial review – pertinently underscore the importance of the Palestine movement and its role in keeping Palestinian issues at the top of the agenda. Lewis Akers, trade unionist and organiser for the Stop the War Coalition, says marches like today’s demonstrate the scale of public support and the continued relevance of grassroots action on Palestine.

‘They [Palestine marches] show that there’s a massive support amongst the general population for action on Palestine. They show that it’s not just a fringe issue, but it’s one that concerns everybody in society.

‘Our march today showed that there’s mosques, trade unionists, churches, anti-racist groups. People from right across society have been represented today.

‘The majority of people in Scotland and the UK agree with us; that we need to stop arming Israel, that we need a Palestinian state, and that our focus should be on welfare, not warfare.’

Ipsos Mori polling from September reinforced the strong public sentiment of support for the Palestinian people, with two-thirds of respondents expressing their worry about the plight of the Palestinians. As the crisis in Gaza persists, these acts of solidarity, as seen in Dunfermline, ensure that the voices of those affected are not ignored. Marches play an essential role in pressuring our government by highlighting its complicity in propping up the Israeli genocide machine, through its inaction in the face of ethnic cleansing and its supply of intelligence and F-35 fighter jet parts.

The situation in Gaza remains urgent, with repeated ceasefire violations leaving civilians – especially children – trapped amid violence, shortages, and devastation. Events like Dunfermline’s march show that, even far from the conflict, ordinary working people refuse to look away, insisting that their voices demand accountability and attention from those in power.

Organisers stressed that public engagement is essential. Sustained demonstrations, campaigning, and grassroots action keep Palestinian issues visible, challenge political inaction, and ensure that the suffering of those affected continues to be recognised. While our government flounders, the persistence of ordinary citizens offers one of the clearest reminders that human lives cannot be ignored.