Stop the War coalition Newsletter 11.9.26
Posted: 12th September 2026
Newsletter 11/09/26
Today marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the beginning of the ‘war on terror’ that has plagued our lives and political discourse ever since. The attacks killed almost 3,000 people, mostly civilians, and were chillingly recorded on live TV.
As Andrew Murray says, it became “immediately clear that the attacks would be the basis for a further aggressive extension of US war, across the Middle East and South Asia in particular.”
This ‘war on terror’, which successive British government’s have supported, began in Afghanistan, but quickly spread to Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, west and east Africa and most recently Iran, leaving a trail of death and destruction and the loss of millions of innocent lives.
In the wake of 9/11 we also witnessed a sustained assault on our civil liberties – the latest iteration, the ban on Palestine Action and harassment of the Palestine movement.
Another response has been a horrific rise in Islamophobia and racism. Anti-immigration rhetoric and Islamophobia have become an accepted part of political discourse in many circles and has clearly mobilised and empowered the far-right, evidenced by the appalling events last weekend in Dover and Portsmouth. Read the statement signed by StW and other members of the Together Alliance calling on the government to take urgent action.
The founding of StW immediately after 9/11 has played an important role in opposing the ‘war on terror’ and US and British imperialism. Today this is most evident in the Palestine movement which has had the largest sustained mass campaign in recent history.
This week’s announcement of a ban on imports from illegal settlements and the suspension of additional arms export licences to Israel is testament to the influence of our mass campaigning. Read the coalition statement here. This ban has been a core demand of the Palestine movement and proves we are making a difference – but it is just the beginning. The next national march on 10 October, marking three years of genocide, is an opportunity for us to push further and demand a full arms embargo and an end to diplomatic relations with Israel.
International Anti-War Movement on tour
Following the phenomenal success of the International Anti-War Conference in June, Stop the War has organised a national anti-war tour which will be visiting a city near you in October.
During the last week of October we will visit 6 cities with a panel of international speakers, including European MPs and trade unionists, UK trade union general secretaries, StW officers and other key activists. Save the date - check out our event page for updates.
Wages not Weapons at the TUC
Stop the War will be in Brighton at the TUC this coming week, backing the UCU and its sister unions in their demand that Congress supports the Wages not Weapons campaign. Please support the campaign if you are in Brighton. Read StW’s chair, Alex Kenny’s article about the campaign here.
Even if you are not at the TUC you can help by taking our model resolution, which came out of the International Conference Against War, to your trade union branch.
Join the Palestine Demonstration on 10 October
Make sure you have booked your travel for the international demonstration for Palestine on 10 October and are organising for the day. The demonstration (assembling on Victoria Embankment, London at midday) marks the three year anniversary of the Israeli genocide in Gaza. We need to ensure the protest is huge and get as many unions with their banners there as possible – join the union bloc at Cleopatra’s Needle.
Leaflets are now available for printing and collection, you can download the pdf or collect from our office in London (please email first).
Tell Andy Burnham to Stop Arming Israel
Pressure is building on Andy Burnham to recognise Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.
A model motion is circulating ahead of Labour conference which calls on the government to accept the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry that Israel has committed genocide and to impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel, including a full arms embargo.
It also calls for a ban on all trade that aids or assists Israel’s military actions in Gaza or its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including all trade with Israel’s illegal settlements. While the government has now announced a trade ban, it is important that all the motion’s demands are passed in order to push ministers still further.
You can help increase the pressure on the PM by joining the Palestine coalition’s march and rally in Liverpool on Saturday 26 September – the eve of conference.
There’s a coach leaving from London at 6.30am. Please let the office know if you’ve booked coaches from wherever you are.
This week’s anti-war briefing
