What to Know

• Beginning April 23rd, grassroots campaign Our Fight is making a solidarity trip to Israel to show support during an important week which spans a number of commemorations; for the victims of the Holocaust, the brave fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the hostages from October 7th, and IDF's fallen soldiers.
• The trip concludes with members joining the celebrations for the anniversary of Israel's independence (May 1st).
• Our Fight is a UK-based campaign that was established by non-Jews in the shadow of October 7th after it became clear that not only was there little empathy for the victims of Hamas's pogrom, but despite Israel's losses, anti-Semitism was actually rising.
• Our Fight does not base its support for Israel on religious belief but on a recognition that Israel is a necessity for Jews as a defence against anti-Semitism, as well as a beacon for those navigating a world that is rapidly losing sight of important values such as community, nation and service.
• In addition to attending the ceremonies and celebrations the group of 16 will be meeting Israelis from all walks of life. The group wish to convey British and non-Jewish support for Israel and to hear first hand of the challenges, debates, unity and friction of a nation at war.
• Contact press@OurFight.uk

Background

Every year since 1949, Israel has set aside a day to remember the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust—Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day.

Since 1951, the date adopted for the commemoration has been the anniversary of the start of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising—a courageous attempt by Jews to resist their collection before being transported to the death-camps. By choosing this day to honour the memory of those slaughtered in the Shoah, Israel is reminding the world that even when contemplating the depths to which humanity can fall, we should know that it is always possible to choose an alternative—even in this most dire situation Jews chose to resist, to fight and ultimately to look to the future.

But it is becoming clear that outside Israel these lessons from the Holocaust are being rapidly lost. Whilst denial of the actuality of the Holocaust remains thankfully rare, its central lesson about the consequences of anti-Semitism is being recast as a bland warning against bullying and bigotry, and a shocking tool with which to damn Israel.

During January's International Holocaust Memorial Day Our Fight campaigners displayed the Yad Vashem exhibition The Auschwitz Album in London's Parliament Square in order to engage the public with the history and significance of the Holocaust. In February Our Fight hosted a hugely successful symposium in North London—called Remaking the Promise of Never Again—with a range of speakers including Brendan O'Neill and Jonathan Sacerdoti.

This week's solidarity trip to Israel is a continuation of the theme of ensuring that the Holocaust is not rewritten, and crucially, is a way to emphasise that non-Jews have a significant role to play in ensuring it is remembered as unique.

Our Fight founder Mark Birbeck said of the trip:

The Holocaust was a unique event—humanity's darkest years occurred when Europe was at its most civilised. That it happened, means it could happen again. But anti-Semitism was the Shoah's key driver and if we allow that to be removed, we are left without any way to understand its first occurrence, or to stop its second.

Our group is coming to Israel as our contribution to reestablishing that 'Never Again' must be about the Holocaust. We recognise the existence of Israel as a necessary response to anti-Semitism, and are moved to be joining Israelis to commemorate its past and celebrate its future.

Schedule

The Our Fight delegation is privileged to have been invited to the official opening ceremony of the Yom HaShoah commemoration, to be held at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem during the evening of April 23rd. The following day (April 24th) the group will return to Yad Vashem for a wreath-laying ceremony in Warsaw Ghetto Square, a guided tour of the Yad Vashem museum, and a visit to the cemetery of Mount Herzl.

On Shabbat (April 25th), the group will receive a guided tour of Jerusalem to better understand its history and its position as a place of significance for people of many different religions. In the evening everyone will be hosted by a local Jewish family for a Shabbat dinner.

The group has also been invited to attend Jewish News Syndicate's international conference, taking place in Jerusalem on April 27th and 28th. The event will be addressed by leading politicians, journalists and opinion-formers—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckerbie, international law expert Natasha Hausdorff, journalist Emily Schrader, writer Melanie Phillips, military expert Col. Richard Kemp and many more.

April 29th is the eve of Yom HaZikaron—the day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who gave their lives to bring about Israel's formation and for those who have given their lives since, to defend the state—and so the group will join the Lone Soldier Center's commemoration on Ammunition Hill, Jerusalem. Before this the group will hear from Harriet Levin, mother of Michael Levin who inspired the formation of the Lone Soldier Center.

Since Yom HaZikaron now also commemorates those who are victims of terrorism, it has held increased poignancy since October 7th, as 59 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gazan tunnels. On the eve of Yom HaZikaron the group will visit the Nova Festival memorial site, Kibbutz Nirim (where they will hear from Adel Raemer), the Shuva Achim feeding station (where they will meet active IDF soldiers) and Sderot.

During Yom HaZikaron the delegation will be in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to meet with families of those directly affected by October 7th as well as at Mike's Place bar to commemorate the victims of the bombing, carried out by British terrorists on April 30th, 2003.

Despite the bombings, Mike's Place reopened for that year's Independence Day celebrations—a powerful symbol of the resilience of ordinary Israelis. In the same spirit the Our Fight group will join this year's Independence Day party at Mike's Place.

The solidarity trip will end on May 1st with the delegation joining Yom HaAtzmaut celebrations in Tel Aviv.

Assets

Videos

Our Fight campaigners in London's Parliament Square, using the Yad Vashem exhibition The Auschwitz Album to engage the public around International Holocaust Memorial Day.

Sessions from the JW3 Symposium Remaking the Promise of Never Again, jointly organised with British Friends of Israel, at which speakers included Brendan O'Neill and Jonathan Sacerdoti.

Itinerary

The schedule for the group whilst in Israel is:

• April 23rd: Yom HaShoah eve: official commemoration at Yad Vashem.
• ⁠April 24th: Yom HaShoah day: commemoration in Warsaw Ghetto Square, followed by guided tour of Yad Vashem, and then a walk up to Mount Herzl to see tombs and graves.
• ⁠April 25th: Shabbat eve: tour of Old City of Jerusalem, followed by Shabbat dinner with a local family.
• ⁠April 26th: Shabbat day: day in Jaffa, including Ziv Koren exhibition at Peres Centre. Evening: Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
• April 27th and 28th: JNS International Policy Summit.
• April 29th: day in South, visiting Nova memorial, Kibbutz Nirim (including talk from Adel Raemer), car graveyard, Shuva Achim and Sderot.
• April 29th: Yom HaZikaron eve: talk from Harriet Levin, mother of Michael Levin who inspired the formation of the Lone Soldier Center, after his death. Followed by Lone Soldier Center Yom HaZikaron Memorial Ceremony on Ammunition Hill.
• ⁠April 30th: Yom HaZikaron day: Hostage Square.
• April 30th: Yom HaAtzmaut eve: Independence Day party.
• ⁠May 1st: Yom HaAtzmaut day: BBQ.

Group Profiles

Suzy

Suzy says:

I had always felt fortunate to live as a Jew in Britain. Saying 'never again' felt like an insurance policy against forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust.  I believed humankind had learned from the most brutal of lessons, that we were safe, valued and woven into the fabric of British society.

As we enjoyed an imagined security, anti-Semitism silently grew in strength and proportion, only to be unleashed by the massacre of October 7th.

Since that hellish day, UK Jewish Zionists have welcomed and been supported by Our Fight as we have stood together, for Israel, against anti-Semitism. This trip is an opportunity to strengthen that bond, learning about Jewish history and Israel, as we continue to combat anti-Semitism together.

Elisabetta

Elisabetta says:

In January 2025, Our Fight held a London symposium called Remaking The Promise of Never Again. On that day, we pledged to work towards ensuring that each generation will remember and learn from the unique horror of the Shoah. I am coming to Israel to honour that promise. I am hopeful that our trip will equip me with stronger arguments to talk to the young and inspire them to remake the promise of ‘Never Again’.

Margarita

Margarita says:

I am joining this unique trip because Israel holds a special place in my heart. I am Greek Orthodox and since I was very little I yearned to go there, eventually visiting in 1995 as a student of Theology. It was always my dream to return and since October 7th it has felt like a necessity.

I stand in solidarity with Israel and against hate on the streets of London, but I want to pay my respects in person to the victims of October 7th and the Holocaust, as well as saying ‘thank you’ to Israelis for protecting the world against terrorists. It is a blessing to travel with 'family', which is what we Our Fight has become since October 7th.

For me this trip to the Holy Land is a necessary pilgrimage.

Lesley

Lesley says:

I have been a regular visitor to Israel since I was 7 years old, brought up by a whole family of Zionists. The last 18 months since October 7th have been so traumatising, with all the hatred towards us, and I had to come here to support Israel and be with my people. I love Israel with all my heart. Thank you Our Fight for organising this trip.

Wendy

Wendy says:

I’ve been thinking about going to Israel for at least 15 years. Although now may seem a crazy time to visit as a tourist, it seems the right time to come as part of a special delegation, showing solidarity with those fighting for Israel’s survival.

I was horrified by what Hamas did, and it caused me to read a lot more widely and deeply about the issues. I’ve long felt that the West has made a real mess of the Palestinian situation, but never thought that their failure could lead to such a civilisational crisis and the consequent rise of anti-Semitism, fuelled by the Islamist, anti-Israel ideologies of Palestinian organisations.

I hope our delegation gives Israelis encouragement and strengthens our own ability to confront contemporary antisemitism at home in Britain.

Vicki

Vicki says:

I haven't been to Israel for many years. To say I am shocked at the overnight tsunami of anti-Semitism is an understatement. Who knew the hatred had never gone away and in fact was quietly being stoked under our very noses? This is proof that we need the safety of Israel more than ever. To show solidarity, to share their pain and their resilience and to experience their unending celebration of life means everything.

Brid

Brid says:

Like many in the UK, I’ve been horrified by the regular pro-Hamas/anti-Israel demonstrations on our streets as well as the growth of anti-Semitism, and I want to do my bit.

Although I live in London I remain an Irish citizen—the Jewish population in Ireland is tiny but the growth of anti-Semitism there is equally worrying. That the Irish born barrister Franck Magennis recently applied to the UK’s Home Secretary to make it legal to openly support Hamas adds insult to injury and fuels my determination to say 'not in my name'.

Israel’s fight is our fight and I want to show solidarity with the ordinary people of Israel.

Kurpa

Kurpa says:

I joined Our Fight after October 7th, not because of my love for Israel and the Jewish people, or because I am a Christian. It was simply because I am human and can see right from wrong.

When I learned about the history of the Holocaust, I said to myself, if this happened in my lifetime I would make a stand. Though I appreciate that what is happening to the Jews today is not a Holocaust, I acknowledge that the rise of anti-Semitism is how the Holocaust began. I cannot remain silent knowing where it can lead.

I stand with Our Fight in 'Remaking the Promise of Never Again'. Perhaps as Mordichai said to Queen Esther, we have been raised for such a time as this.

For me, the aim of the Our Fight Solidarity Trip to Israel is to better understand Israel, especially in their darkest hour and to show the people of Israel and the Jews that they are not alone.

Michael

Michael says:

Israel is the most unfairly maligned and misunderstood country in the world. Some of that misunderstanding is the result of naivety, and blindly following the crowd, but in the case of others it is a wilful misunderstanding based on anti-Semitism and the desire to close their eyes and ears to the truth about Israel.

This trip to Israel is the opportunity to meet Israelis from all walks of life and deepen my own understanding of the truth about Israel and Israelis. I also want to show solidarity with them in their fight against Hamas and for civilisation against barbarism—a fight which Israel is leading, and which is in our interest, as well as theirs.