THE owner of an Oswestry business who has set up a tank and sculpture bearing the Israel and Palestine flags says it is an anti-war gesture.

The British Ironwork Centre, off the A5, has placed a tank with the Israeli flag on it facing a sculpture of a person carrying the Palestine flag outside the well-known visitor attraction.

It also has a sign stating ‘if we don’t end war, war will end us’.

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Clive Knowles, owner of the Ironworks Centre, has now confirmed that his message is to call for a ceasefire both in Gaza and around the world, stating wars will be "the end of civilisation".

“it’s purely an anti-war, visual arts statement referring Gaza especially, and around the world,” he said.

“The horrendous volume of death and destruction in Gaza is beyond imaginable.

“There have been 28,000 deaths, mainly women and children, bombing of hospitals, universities, water works, sewage facilities, schools, UN safe zones, the list is endless – basically destroying all civilian infrastructure.

“Unprecedented amounts of journalists and UN workers, also deliberately targeted; literally no-one is safe, this is endlessly reported by all global institutions as unconscionable.

“We feel that there’s too great a silence from our UK Government, knowing that the killing is unrelenting, without any great or determined objection.

“Mild cries for restraint from the UK have not stopped or even slowed the levels of carnage.

“Now today, we have 1.5m people herded into one small area of the southernmost part of Gaza, the most over crowed place in the world, with Israel reporting ‘there’s going to be yet another offensive’.”

Clive added that he hopes the sculpture can bring measured conversation about the role of war in 21st century society.

“Our position is clear, we want the UK to use its influence, for an immediate ceasefire, these levels of deaths and brutality haven’t been seen since the Second World War.

“War, bombing, starvation, the onset of disease, this is all unthinkable on this industrial scale, where is the UK’s humanity?

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“None of this will bring peace, there has only ever been one obvious solution, two independent states, equal rights, self-respect and dignity for all.

“This sculpture has to spark urgent conversations and UK has to re-reflect on its conscience.”

The sculpture is on display at the Ironwork centre close to Oswestry, just off the A5.