A VIGIL for peace in the Middle East will be held in Salisbury this weekend.

Salisbury Methodist Church will host the gathering on Sunday (November 26) between 3pm and 3.30pm.

Organisers said the vigil will be a safe, neutral and reflective space for Salisbury residents to come together in solidarity with people in the Middle East and to commit themselves to the cause of peace with justice.

“There will be a few thoughtful words, the lighting of candles and shared silence for us to send love, compassion, peaceful energy and prayers to the Middle East,” a spokesperson said.

“There will be an opportunity to donate to the Christian Aid Middle East Crisis Appeal to support their essential relief work in the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Space will also be made to remember ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Libya, Congo and “all the places that have dropped out of the news, but where there remains suffering and ongoing violence and conflict”, they added.

Last weekend, a woman sat in a twilight vigil outside Salisbury Library, gazing at a candle perched on her knees.

For half an hour on Saturday (November 18), surrounded by 40 others, she kept her vigil for peace in the region.

Members of Salisbury CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament), SCIP (Sarum Concern for Israel-Palestine), Amnesty International, local clergy and more joined the demonstration.

Earlier in the day, aware that local MP John Glenn had not voted for a ceasefire a few days previous, SCIP called on its supporters: “Please give up a few minutes of your time so we can show our political leaders that we do care about what they say and how they vote.”

Many towns around the UK, including Dorchester, Lymington and Southampton, held events on the same weekend under the banner Day of Action – Ceasefire now.