On Saturday 17 January, members of Wrexham Peace & Justice Forum and others horrified at the mounting death toll in Gaza held a vigil and protest against Israel's continuing violence against the Palestinian people.

Over 50 people gathered in Queens Square to hold a silent vigil to remember all those who have died in the attacks. Speakers afterwards included Janet Ryder, Plaid Cymru Assembly member for North Wales. The demonstrators displayed a huge banner with the words 'Enough death. Stop this bloody war'; a tiny coffin reminded us that around one third of the 1,000 people who have been killed in the conflict were children, while peace flags flying in the centre of Queens Square expressed our hope that peaceful and just solutions may be found.

Some of those present were later joined by others at Tesco in Wrexham, to protest against Tesco's refusal to remove Israeli products from its shelves. Acting autonomously, the protesters took part in a wide range of actions inside the Tesco store and on the car park. Shoppers were offered leaflets explaining the call for a boycott of Israeli goods. One of the demonstrators was bodily carried from the store by security staff after staging a 'die-in' next to the Israeli herb display in the fruit and vegetable section.

A leaflet asked people to boycott Israeli goods and included the following text:

SHOPPING CAN KILL!
Did you realise that when you buy products from Israel, you are supporting the Israeli state directly or indirectly? Most fresh Israeli produce comes from a company called Carmel-Agrexco, which is 50% owned by the Israeli government. Much of its produce is grown and packed on illegal Israeli settlements by exploited Palestinian workers.

Genny Bove, of Wrexham Peace & Justice Forum, said later, "This is not an isolated act of aggression by the Israelis, but part of a long campaign of violence and oppression against the Palestinian people. Israel continues to defy dozens of UN resolutions, yet the US and UK continue to arm Israel. Are the British people really happy that arms made here are being used to kill Palestinian children? If we are not, then we have a responsibility to do something about it.

"Irrespective of any ceasefire, the occupation of Palestinian lands and suffering of the Palestinian people will continue unless the international community brings pressure to bear on Israel. One way ordinary people can make a difference is by boycotting Israeli goods and refusing to support companies which have Israeli links. Another is to write to your MP and ask him to raise questions in Parliament about arms exports to Israel, which have increased dramatically in recent months."

Britain sold £6 million of arms to Israel in the whole of 2007, and £20 million of arms in just the first three months of 2008.