Key Points
- A 24-hour vigil was held in Bolton town centre on 4 October 2025 to commemorate over 18,000 children killed in Gaza.
- The event, organised by Friends of Al-Asqa and Bolton4Palestine, took place in Victoria Square from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Attendees read aloud the names of deceased children, with organisers stating the full list would take 24 hours to complete.
- Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had urged caution following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue on 3 October 2025.
- Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson appealed for the public to refrain from protests that could exacerbate trauma within the Jewish community.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for recognition and respect for the grief of British Jews.
- A Friends of Al-Asqa spokesperson acknowledged the synagogue attack but stressed the importance of mourning Gaza’s children, noting the event remained peaceful with police presence.
- The vigil occurred amid heightened tensions and increased police patrols at synagogues across Manchester.
Inverted Pyramid: Most Critical Information First
A solemn 24-hour vigil to honour Palestinian children killed in Gaza was held in Bolton town centre on Saturday, 4 October 2025, drawing public attention to the human cost of the ongoing conflict. Organised by Friends of Al-Asqa in collaboration with Bolton4Palestine, the event took place in Victoria Square and invited members of the public to read aloud the names of over 18,000 children reported to have died in Gaza.
The organisers stated that reading all the names would require a full 24 hours, underscoring the scale of child fatalities. As reported by a spokesperson for Friends of Al-Asqa,
“We're mindful of the horrific nature of the killings at the synagogue in Manchester. However, we believe it is important to have space for different kinds of suffering—the suffering in Gaza is such an enormity that we feel it is imperative that we continue on”.
Why Was the Vigil Held Amid Rising Tensions?
The event unfolded against a backdrop of heightened community tension following a fatal attack on a Manchester synagogue on Thursday, 3 October 2025. Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, allegedly carried out a car-ramming and stabbing attack, killing two men and seriously injuring three others. The suspect, who was on bail for a rape offence, has been apprehended and is under police questioning.
In response, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) issued a public appeal urging communities to refrain from demonstrations that might deepen communal trauma. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson stated,
“We ask that people refrain, on this occasion, from protesting in a manner likely to compound the trauma being experienced by our Jewish community”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, calling on the public to “recognize and respect the grief of British Jews”.
Despite these appeals, organisers maintained that their commemoration was conducted with dignity and respect. A Friends of Al-Asqa representative confirmed that police were present but no interventions were necessary, affirming the peaceful nature of the gathering.
How Did Organisers Justify Holding the Event?
The decision to proceed with the vigil was defended on humanitarian grounds. As stated by the Friends of Al-Asqa spokesperson, the event was not intended to provoke but to bear witness to immense loss. “This commemoration has been peaceful and dignified. There is a policeman present, but indeed, there has been no need for any police intervention,” they added.
The organisers highlighted that the conflict in Gaza has resulted in catastrophic child mortality, with over 18,000 minors reportedly killed. This figure aligns with broader international reports, including one from Save the Children Australia, which cited over 17,000 children killed in a 24-hour vigil held in Australia earlier in 2025. Mat Tinkler, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Australia, described the Gaza conflict as turning “childhood into a death sentence,” emphasising that no military objective justifies such loss of life.
What Has Been the International Response?
International human rights organisations have echoed these concerns. A report cited by Al Jazeera on 14 September 2025 revealed that foreign doctors returning from Gaza claimed Israel was systematically targeting children using snipers and drones, according to a Dutch newspaper investigation. Amnesty International Australia and other humanitarian groups have jointly called for an immediate ceasefire and accountability for alleged war crimes.
Michelle Higelin, Executive Director of ActionAid Australia, stated,
“It is indefensible that the Israeli military continues to starve, maim and kill innocent children on a daily basis”.
Similarly, Jennifer Tierney of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia stressed the deliberate devastation of Gaza’s healthcare system and called on governments, including Australia’s, to enforce international law.
What Are the Broader Implications for Community Relations?
The juxtaposition of the synagogue attack and the Gaza memorial has intensified debates on community safety, free speech, and collective mourning. Foreign Secretary David Lammy was reportedly confronted by a vigil crowd near the Manchester synagogue, with attendees shouting “shame on you,” reflecting deep divisions within the public sphere.
Meanwhile, police have increased patrols at synagogues across Manchester to ensure community safety. The GM Friends of Palestine, a regional advocacy group, has also been active in organising solidarity events, though they were not directly linked to the Bolton vigil.
What Comes Next?
As the 24-hour reading in Bolton concluded, organisers reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful remembrance. The event stands as a stark reminder of the human toll of protracted conflict and the challenges of balancing communal grief in a pluralistic society. With international calls for ceasefire growing louder, the vigil in Bolton adds to a global chorus demanding accountability and humanitarian relief for Gaza’s civilian population.
The full impact of such memorials on policy remains uncertain, but their emotional resonance is undeniable. Each name read aloud in Victoria Square represented not just a statistic, but a life—once filled with potential, now remembered in silence and sorrow