Good to see a tremendous turnout for the London protest on Wed 4th June, when protesters dressed in red surrounded Parliament, holding a huge banner stating that “Starving children is a red line” & calling for a total embargo on military equipment sales to Israel. I was less impressed with media claims that the protesters were numbered in their dozens, when photographs clearly show there were many thousands. Thankfully less biased news reports have finally begun to feature sickening details of the barbaric and inhumane slaughter, maiming and starvation of innocent Palestinians in Gaza. Attempts to justify the situation as Irael having ‘the right to defend itself’ are sickening. How does defence necessitate snipers shooting children in the head, as reported by brave medics who have gone to Gaza to try to help save lives there ? We are clearly witnessing genocide, and it’s disgraceful that so many public figures are avoiding condemning it. It’s also disgraceful that UK military exports to Israel have expanded hugely under Labour, from less than £300k in the first quarter of 2024 to over £127 million in the last quarter.
Protests against the treatment of Palestinians are not antisemitic. Many Jews around the world are totally against the Zionist agenda of preventing the creation of a Palestinian state. Since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 around 160 illegal settlements have been built throughout the territory, and there have been countless reports of armed settler attacks on neighbouring Palestinian villages, aided and abetted by the so-called Israeli ‘Defence’ Force that has ironically labelled itself as ‘the most moral army in the world’.
The Israeli Defence Minister has described plans for a further 22 Israeli West Bank settlements as a move that “prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel.” The lack of a Palestinian state is the real danger, and the destruction of Gaza is simply acting as a powerful recruiting sergeant for terrorist organisations that seek to destroy the Israeli state. The answer lies in establishing what the Palestinians so desperately need and deserve, justice and a state of their own.
By Ken Huggins
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7893vpy2gqo Gaza surgeon tells MPs about drones targeting children
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/major-jump-approved-uk-arms-exports-israel-weeks-after-gaza-ban
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-denies-gaza-injured-children-medical-treatment-shameful
Excellent article Ken. We had a rally with speeches and music today followed by a march round part of Bridport centre. Julian