PALESTINE campaigners in West Yorkshire today sent condolences to friends after a family in Gaza lost 11 members when their home was blown up by Israeli forces.

Halifax Friends of Palestine has extensive links with people in Gaza, including a “twinning” arrangement with a women’s food co-operative there.

Among the group’s contacts in Gaza is Mona al-Farra, a hospital doctor and organiser of the Gaza-based Middle East Children’s Alliance. She organised the link with the women’s co-op.

Her brother Musheir al-Farra moved to Britain around 15 years ago and lives in Sheffield, where he works with Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

“Mona and Musheir’s cousin’s family took a direct hit over the weekend,” said Jenny Lynn of Halifax Friends of Palestine.

“We understand 11 family members were killed, five of them children and the youngest aged four.

“In Gaza many people live together as extended families. We believe another 24 family members were injured. It hit them while they were sleeping.

“Mona has been working incredibly hard. The last I heard she had a dozen children staying in her house.”

Ms Lynn wrote to Musheir in Sheffield on behalf of the Halifax group expressing “deepest sorrow at the appalling massacre inflicted on your cousin’s family in Khan Younis” and pledging “solidarity and determination to work harder than ever to secure justice for the Palestinian people.”

A benefit concert for Gaza was held at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, on Friday, raising more than £800.