London school where more than half of pupils are eligible for free school meals asked children to ‘fast for Gaza’
A London school has announced that it will be asking children to “fast for Gaza” later this week.
Staff and students at George Green’s School in Tower Hamlets have been told to “come together in a collective fast” on Friday, December 13.
The co-educational state school, founded in 1828, has launched a Just Giving page to raise funds for a crisis appeal in aid of Gazan children, run by the humanitarian charity Unicef.
The fundraiser will donate money towards “food, medical aid, and other critical resources” for children in Gaza who have been impacted by the ongoing conflict.
A post on the school’s website said: “As a Rights Respecting School, we stand united in supporting the children of Gaza, firmly advocating for their right to safety, health, and education.
“On 13th December, both staff and students will come together in a collective fast, demonstrating our solidarity and raising awareness.”
Headteacher at George Green’s School Jon Ryder said the latest hunger strike was “organised in response to student voices on this issue and follows on from a similar event we ran a year ago, which raised several thousand pounds.”
He told the Jewish Chronicle the event was “entirely voluntary” and was “well-supported by members of the school community, including students, parents, and staff”.
He added: “As a Unicef Gold Award Rights Respecting school, we take any acts of discrimination incredibly seriously and will always investigate and take appropriate action if we are made aware of it, in line with our behaviour policy.”
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It comes as Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urged teachers not to take part in pro-Palestine demonstrations across schools last month amid fears it could make Jewish pupils “feel intimidated.”
Speaking ahead of the strike dates, she said: “Political impartiality in our schools matters; the safety and belonging of Jewish students matters; and as Education Secretary the interests of children and young people will always come first.
“I would urge the minority of teachers considering taking part in protests on Thursday to think very carefully about the message they are sending to children and young people, and in particular Jewish students.
“Many Jewish young people, including in schools and in universities, have experienced abhorrent anti-Semitism, particularly over the past year.”
Hamas killed some 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages back to Gaza when they attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 44,700 Palestinians have been killed in the 14-month-old Israeli military campaign on Gaza that has followed, Hamas health authorities say, with many accusing IDF forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian schools and hospitals.
Unicef executive director Catherine Russell said: “Schools should never be on the frontlines of war, and children should never be indiscriminately attacked while seeking shelter.
“The horrors we are seeing in Gaza are setting a dark precedent for humanity, one where children are hit with bombs at record numbers while looking for safety inside classrooms. Trauma and loss have become their daily norm.”