Together for Humanity to hold mass vigil to bridge divisions over Israel-Gaza war

A coalition of charities, community organisations and faith groups have joined forces to stand against rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate amidst the ongoing conflict in Israel-Palestine.

Together for Humanity is organising a mass vigil on Sunday December 3 for families to grieve all civilians killed in this war in both Israel and Gaza.

Faith and community leaders will also address the vigil in London. Organisers hope that thousands of members of the public will attend. No placards or flags are allowed at the event.

The coalition which is co-founded by Brendan Cox aims to combat extremism and bring people together.

“The hurt and pain on both sides of this [war] is so overwhelming that people are not able to acknowledge a shared sense of grief and suffering,” Cox told the Guardian.

 “And then there are people who are willing to exploit the situation to peddle antisemitism or Islamophobia. The most extreme voices are dominating the conversation.”

Cox’s wife, the Labour MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a rightwing extremist during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016

After her death, Brendan founded the Together Coalition, which supports survivors of terror attacks. The Jo Cox Foundation was also set up in her memory and aims to spread her message of unity.

Together for Humanity was set up after a positive response to a post on X, where Cox asked if we should organise a “no to hatred march.”

The coalition’s first vigil was held outside Downing Street on November 17, with speeches from Magen Inon, a London-based Israeli teacher who lost both of his parents in the Hamas attack on October 7.

Inon said: “I know that I will not be able to mourn my parents properly as long as the fighting continues. I pray that no more innocent lives are lost, for the hostages to be safely back home and for the war to end.”

Layla Moran, a Lib Dem MP of Palestinian heritage shared her devastation that she had just lost her first family member in Gaza after being unable to access hospital treatment.

“I come because I want to share that grief but also to say I feel closer now even to those in Israel who have also lost others in this tragedy.”

Together for Humanity aspires to become a national movement, offering support, speakers and background material to local groups that want to bridge divides.