AN hour-long vigil has been held to mark the anniversary of a massacre which claimed the lives of 100 civilians.

Supporters of Durham Palestine Solidarity Campaign held the vigil in Millennium Place, in Durham City, on Saturday (apr 25) to commemorate the anniversary of the massacre at Deir Yassin.

In April 1948, Israeli fighters from Irgun carried out an attack on the Palestinian village which left more than 100 civilians dead As well as marking the historic anniversary, campaigners said they also wanted to highlight the ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza.

Spokesman for Durham PSC, Bill Williamson, says that the public response to the vigil was positive and that many people had signed a petition to be sent, via Durhams MP, Dr.Roberta Blackman-Woods, to Gordon Brown demanding a cessation of all British arms sales to Israel.