Starmer shows no guts or compassion on Gaza
In 1984-85, I served with Operation Bushel, the RAF detachment in Ethiopia that flew aid into areas of famine. The operation was approved by Margaret Thatcher, despite Ethiopia's government being a brutal regime propped up by the Soviet Union. Delivering aid by air is difficult, risky and expensive; it's appropriate only when there is no other option.
In Gaza, the so-called safe area of al-Mawasi is only 10 miles by road from the Rafah crossing; just north of Gaza is a major Israeli port, with road access into Gaza just a few miles away. This is one of the worst aspects of the famine in Gaza: unlike in Ethiopia, where access was extremely difficult, in Gaza there is a mountain of aid sitting close by, but kept inaccessible by Israel's actions.
That Benjamin Netanyahu is allowing a trickle of aid into Gaza is a sign that international pressure has an effect. Most of the pressure here is coming from the public while our government spouts platitudes. Mrs Thatcher might have had the compassion and guts to take difficult decisions. Sir Keir Starmer clearly hasn't.Doug MaughanDunblane, Perthshire
I agree with Nesrine Malik (Protesting over Gaza's starvation feels like screaming into a void – but we mustn't stop, 28 July), but unfortunately we have allowed pro-Israel pressure groups to redefine criticism of Israel as antisemitism, and the government to redefine expressing support for Palestine as terrorism. The former can be brushed away, but an arrest under anti-terrorism laws, even if no charges are brought, can have serious affects on someone's employment prospects and freedom to travel for the rest of their lives. If the proscription of Palestine Action is ever reversed, we must demand that any related arrests, charges and convictions are expunged from people's records.Mike PerryIckenham, London
Nesrine Malik powerfully expressed the true nature of the catastrophe, the true horror of its outcomes and the true failure of governments to halt Israel's wanton destruction of Palestine and its people.
But her words, and these few, are wasted unless governments come together to halt military and trade relations, and institute sanctions that will force Israel to end military action, withdraw from Gaza, allow meaningful aid to reach its people, restore infrastructure and agree to a two-state solution.
I have been a passive, if horrified, observer. I am now an active protester.Teresa BoohanLondon
My country can't single-handedly stop what's happening, but we could at a stroke cut off every atom of support, every shred of legitimacy to the perpetrators. And by choosing not to, my government is making me and all my fellow citizens accessories to an atrocity. How can I make it clear that I do not consent to this? Being ignored is what drives desperate law-abiding citizens first to be paint-sprayers and eventually to more violent forms of screaming.Katy JennisonWitney, Oxfordshire
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BBC News
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- BBC News
Videos of emaciated hostages condemned as Red Cross calls for access
Western leaders have condemned videos of emaciated Israeli hostages filmed by their captors in Gaza, with the Red Cross calling for access to all remaining in Foreign Secretary David Lammy said "images of hostages being paraded for propaganda are sickening" and they must be released "unconditionally".The calls come after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad published video of Rom Braslavski, thin and crying, on Thursday, and Hamas released footage of an emaciated Evyatar David on leaders accused Hamas of starving armed wing denied it intentionally starves prisoners, saying hostages eat what their fighters and people eat amid a hunger crisis in Gaza. Both Braslavski, 21, and David, 24, were taken hostage from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. They are among 49 hostages, out of 251 originally taken, who Israel says are still being held in Gaza. This includes 27 hostages who are believed to be the videos were released, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the two hostage families, expressing "profound shock" and telling them that efforts to return all the hostages "will continue constantly and relentlessly".On Sunday, Netanyahu spoke to the head of the Red Cross in the region, requesting his immediate involvement in providing food and medical care to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was "appalled" by the videos that gave "stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held". The charity reiterated its call to be granted access to the hostages to assess their condition, give them medical support and facilitate contact with their armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades said it would respond positively to any Red Cross request to deliver food and medicine to prisoners if humanitarian corridors were opened into Gaza on a regular and permanent basis, and air strikes halted during the time of receiving Red Cross has faced heavy criticism in Israel over its role in the war, with claims that it has failed to help the hostages being held in this year, amid anger over chaotic scenes as hostages were freed as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas, the organisation explained the limits of its role, saying it relies on the warring parties' goodwill to operate in conflict zones. There has also been criticism from Palestinians, as the group has not been allowed to visit Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails since 7 October 2023. At the weekend in Tel Aviv, crowds of protesters and hostage families gathered once again, calling on the Israeli government to secure the release of hostages. David and Braslavski's families said at a rally on Saturday that "everyone must get out of hell, now."In one video, Braslavski is seen crying as he says he has "run out of food and water" and only ate three falafels that day. He says he is unable to stand or walk, and "on the verge of death".Braslavski's family in a statement said "they managed to break Rom" and pleaded to Israeli and US leaders to bring their son home."He has simply been forgotten there," they said. In the second video, David said "I haven't eaten for days... I barely got drinking water" and is seen digging what he says will be his own family said he was being "deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas's tunnels in Gaza - a living skeleton, buried alive". German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was "appalled" by the images, adding the release of all hostages was a mandatory prerequisite for a ceasefire between Israel and President Emmanuel Macron, who said Hamas embodies "abject cruelty", added France continues to work tirelessly towards the release of hostages, to restore a ceasefire, and to enable humanitarian aid to enter said this effort must be accompanied with a political solution, with a two-state solution "with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace". France recently announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state, along with Canada and the UK, under certain conditions. Israel has strongly condemned the images of emaciated hostages are coming out as UN-backed agencies have said the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in Gaza, with malnutrition deaths reported Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday that 175 people, including 93 children, have died of malnutrition since the start of the UN, aid agencies and some of Israel's allies blame the hunger crisis on Israeli restrictions on the entry and delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel denies the allegation and blames the overwhelming evidence, Israeli authorities, and part of the country's press, strongly reject that there is starvation in Gaza, and say the crisis is a lie fabricated by Hamas and spread by international pictures of emaciated children have been displayed by Israeli protesters calling for a deal with Hamas, but many in Israel seem unaware of the extent of the emergency the war continues, Israel faces growing international isolation, as the widespread destruction in Gaza and the suffering of Palestinians spark outrage. Polls around the world suggest that public opinion is increasingly negative about Israel, which is putting pressure on leaders to act.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Swinney welcomes bringing Gaza children to UK but ‘regrets' it wasn't sooner
Mr Swinney welcomed reported plans that up to 300 children could be flown from Gaza to be treated on the NHS. But he said he regretted the action did not come sooner. The SNP leader said he had written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on July 9 urging such action to be taken. He said: 'We have been consistently clear that the suffering being inflicted on the people of Gaza is beyond any justification. 'People in Gaza are being bombed and left to starve by Israel on a massive scale. 'I wrote to the Prime Minister on 9 July to request support from the UK Government in meeting the call from Unicef to provide medical care for children from Gaza. 'If the UK Government is prepared to evacuate Palestinians for medical treatment it would be entirely welcome. 'My only regret is the UK Government has taken this long to act. 'I urge the UK Government to do everything in its power to move swiftly so that lives can be saved. And Scotland will play our part.' The evacuation plans are reportedly set to be announced within weeks. A parent or guardian will accompany each child, as well as siblings if necessary, and the Home Office will carry out biometric and security checks before travel, the Sunday Times reported. This will happen 'in parallel' with an initiative by Project Pure Hope, a group set up to bring sick and injured Gazan children to the UK privately for treatment. More than 50,000 children are estimated to have been killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023, according to Unicef. Sir Keir said last week that the UK was 'urgently accelerating' efforts to bring children over for treatment. A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We are taking forward plans to evacuate more children from Gaza who require urgent medical care, including bringing them to the UK for specialist treatment where that is the best option for their care. 'We are working at pace to do so as quickly as possible, with further details to be set out in due course.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Swinney welcomes bringing Gaza children to UK but ‘regrets' it wasn't sooner
Mr Swinney welcomed reported plans that up to 300 children could be flown from Gaza to be treated on the NHS. But he said he regretted the action did not come sooner. The SNP leader said he had written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on July 9 urging such action to be taken. He said: 'We have been consistently clear that the suffering being inflicted on the people of Gaza is beyond any justification. 'People in Gaza are being bombed and left to starve by Israel on a massive scale. 'I wrote to the Prime Minister on 9 July to request support from the UK Government in meeting the call from Unicef to provide medical care for children from Gaza. 'If the UK Government is prepared to evacuate Palestinians for medical treatment it would be entirely welcome. 'My only regret is the UK Government has taken this long to act. 'I urge the UK Government to do everything in its power to move swiftly so that lives can be saved. And Scotland will play our part.' The evacuation plans are reportedly set to be announced within weeks. A parent or guardian will accompany each child, as well as siblings if necessary, and the Home Office will carry out biometric and security checks before travel, the Sunday Times reported. This will happen 'in parallel' with an initiative by Project Pure Hope, a group set up to bring sick and injured Gazan children to the UK privately for treatment. More than 50,000 children are estimated to have been killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023, according to Unicef. Sir Keir said last week that the UK was 'urgently accelerating' efforts to bring children over for treatment. A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We are taking forward plans to evacuate more children from Gaza who require urgent medical care, including bringing them to the UK for specialist treatment where that is the best option for their care. 'We are working at pace to do so as quickly as possible, with further details to be set out in due course.'
