Latest news with #atrocity
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Shrewsbury MP explains call for Starmer to recognise Palestine
A Labour MP who signed a cross-party letter demanding the government recognise Palestine as a state, has said the situation in Gaza is an "atrocity" which "cannot be allowed to continue".Julia Buckley, MP for Shrewsbury, is among some 220 MPs from nine political parties to have backed the call."We are witnessing deliberate blockades, targeted destruction of food supplies, and the starvation of civilians; acts that shock the conscience and demand urgent and significant accountability," she said. In a statement, Sir Keir Starmer said recognising Palestinian statehood would have to be part of a "wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution". The letter has been signed by 131 Labour MPs, including senior figures like former minister Liam Byrne and committee chair Ruth recognition alone would not end the suffering in Gaza, "British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful" given its history in the region, the MPs comes after the UK and 27 other countries condemned the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians" seeking food and water in which controls the entry of all supplies into the Palestinian territory, has repeatedly said that there is no siege and blames Hamas for cases of malnutrition. Buckley became Shrewsbury's first female MP, when she won the seat for Labour in the 2024 general posted on her Facebook site that she regularly responds directly to constituents who had contacted her about the she added: "I believe it is important, as with any matter of such gravity, that all residents are aware of where I stand as an elected representative."She said the letter aimed to "remind the Prime Minister of the previous parliament's overwhelming support" for recognising MP also said "the UK will be under international scrutiny to update its position" at a UN conference on his statement, Sir Keir said: "Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war."That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting Friday, Sir Keir said the government would "pull every lever" to get food and life saving support to Palestinians, and evacuate children "who need urgent medical assistance". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP explains call for UK to recognise Palestine
A Labour MP who signed a cross-party letter demanding the government recognise Palestine as a state, has said the situation in Gaza is an "atrocity" which "cannot be allowed to continue". Julia Buckley, MP for Shrewsbury, is among some 220 MPs from nine political parties to have backed the call. "We are witnessing deliberate blockades, targeted destruction of food supplies, and the starvation of civilians; acts that shock the conscience and demand urgent and significant accountability," she said. In a statement, Sir Keir Starmer said recognising Palestinian statehood would have to be part of a "wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution". The letter has been signed by 131 Labour MPs, including senior figures like former minister Liam Byrne and committee chair Ruth Cadbury. While recognition alone would not end the suffering in Gaza, "British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful" given its history in the region, the MPs say. It comes after the UK and 27 other countries condemned the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians" seeking food and water in Gaza. Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into the Palestinian territory, has repeatedly said that there is no siege and blames Hamas for cases of malnutrition. Buckley became Shrewsbury's first female MP, when she won the seat for Labour in the 2024 general election. She posted on her Facebook site that she regularly responds directly to constituents who had contacted her about the issue. But she added: "I believe it is important, as with any matter of such gravity, that all residents are aware of where I stand as an elected representative." She said the letter aimed to "remind the Prime Minister of the previous parliament's overwhelming support" for recognising Palestine. The MP also said "the UK will be under international scrutiny to update its position" at a UN conference on Monday. In his statement, Sir Keir said: "Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war. "That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace. On Friday, Sir Keir said the government would "pull every lever" to get food and life saving support to Palestinians, and evacuate children "who need urgent medical assistance". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story 220 MPs call for Starmer to recognise Palestinian state MP's town centre office targeted by vandals Labour in historic win with town's first female MP
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
King sends message to mark 30th anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide
The King has marked the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide by hailing the 'extraordinary courage, compassion and dignity' of those left behind. More than 8,000 men and boys were killed on July 11 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces amid the break-up of the former Yugoslavia – Europe's worst atrocity since the Second World War. The Duchess of Edinburgh is on a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina to mark the anniversary. Sophie delivered a message from the King in which he said he was 'greatly saddened' not to be there in person, adding that he is 'most touched and grateful to be able to share these words as we pay our respects'. In his message, Charles said: 'I have spoken before about the terrible events of thirty years ago, confirmed as genocide by international courts. 'Many of the individuals responsible are now rightly facing justice, but this does not absolve the rest of us of our duties: both to acknowledge the international community's failure to prevent the horror, and to do all we can to ensure it never happens again. 'I humbly salute the Mothers of Srebrenica, and all who do so much, despite their continuing anguish, to preserve the memory of those who died. It has meant a very great deal to me, in past years, to have met survivors, mothers and family members of the missing, for whom I have such admiration. 'Their extraordinary courage, compassion and dignity are a lesson to us all, and it is my hope that we may all take inspiration from their incredible resilience under such unbearable circumstances.' Charles also spoke of taking inspiration from 'those who bravely speak out in pursuit of justice and those who dedicate their lives to rebuilding trust between communities for the sake of a better, shared future'. He said: 'These praiseworthy individuals can be found from all walks of life, and from across all ethnic groups, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world. 'But there can be no shared future when the events of the past are denied or forgotten. 'Only by learning from the past does it become possible to share in each other's loss and look together to the future. 'Only by working together to find the missing can there be closure for those still seeking answers. 'Three decades on, it is ever more important to remember all those who suffered, and to redouble our efforts to ensure a peaceful, stable future for all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.' He concluded his message by saying: 'Today, as we remember the victims, those who so tragically died and those who were left behind, let us honour their memory by standing alongside each and every one of those who work so tirelessly to promote understanding and tolerance between all peoples, of all faiths, nationalities and ethnicities, in the ongoing pursuit of a just and brighter future.'
Al Jazeera
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
What happened in the Srebrenica genocide?
What happened in the Srebrenica genocide? NewsFeed Bosnia is marking 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War Two. Al Jazeera's Alma Milisic explains how it unfolded. Video Duration 00 minutes 46 seconds 00:46 Video Duration 02 minutes 38 seconds 02:38 Video Duration 01 minutes 01 seconds 01:01 Video Duration 02 minutes 55 seconds 02:55 Video Duration 00 minutes 21 seconds 00:21 Video Duration 01 minutes 05 seconds 01:05 Video Duration 01 minutes 03 seconds 01:03
Mail & Guardian
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
The heavens weep as humanity watches Sudan starve
Sudan is a nation ravaged by internal strife, a battleground where the spoils are power and the currency is human suffering. Photo:The skies over Sudan are pregnant with the promise of rain, but for Let us not mince words — this is not a natural disaster; it is a crime against humanity, unfolding in slow motion, a damning indictment of our collective moral bankruptcy. Sudan is a nation ravaged by internal strife, a battleground where the spoils are power and the currency is human suffering. Decades of misrule, the cynical exploitation of ethnic divisions and the insatiable greed of warlords have brought The current conflict, a brutal dance of death between rival factions, is merely the latest act in a long-running tragedy, a tragedy fueled by the same forces that have historically bled Africa dry: the lust for control and callous disregard for human life. To ignore this history is to misunderstand the present, to treat the symptoms while ignoring the festering wound. The The rains, which should bring relief, will instead transform the land into an impassable quagmire, turning refugee camps into death traps and sealing the fate of those already clinging to the precipice of survival. This is not a natural disaster; it is a calculated atrocity, a crime for which there must be accountability. The world's response has been a shameful whisper where a deafening roar of outrage is required. Pledges of aid remain unfulfilled and diplomatic efforts are as feeble as they are ineffectual. We must abandon the language of polite diplomacy and speak the blunt truth — those who perpetuate this conflict, those who obstruct aid, those who turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Sudanese people are complicit in this impending famine. Therefore, we demand immediate and decisive action: An immediate and rigorously monitored ceasefire: The warring factions, Generals Burhan and Hemedti, must be compelled to lay down their arms unconditionally and prioritise the survival of the Sudanese people above their personal ambitions. This must be done through the imposition of targeted international sanctions freezing their assets and restricting their movements, coupled with the credible threat of prosecution by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and obstruction of aid. The urgent establishment of fully protected and internationally guaranteed humanitarian corridors: These corridors, secured by UN peacekeepers if necessary, must ensure the safe and unimpeded passage of life-saving aid — food, water, medicine — to all affected populations, without the consent or interference of the warring parties. Any obstruction must be met with swift and decisive international repercussions. A massive and immediate mobilisation of financial and logistical resources, spearheaded by the AU and the UN: Wealthy nations and international financial institutions must immediately release earmarked and readily disbursable funds, bypassing bureaucratic delays, to bolster the efforts of the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other frontline humanitarian organisations. This must be accompanied by the urgent deployment of logistical support — military transport aircraft, trucks and experienced personnel — to pre-position supplies before the rainy season isolates entire regions. African nations with logistical capabilities must take a leading role in this effort, demonstrating continental solidarity. A unified and forceful diplomatic offensive, led by the AU, with the full backing of the UN Security Council: The AU must convene an emergency summit to forge a cohesive African strategy, leveraging the influence of regional leaders to pressure the warring factions. The Security Council must move beyond mere statements and adopt binding resolutions that impose concrete consequences for the perpetuation of violence and the obstruction of aid, including targeted sanctions and arms embargoes. External actors who are seen to be fueling the conflict must be unequivocally condemned and held accountable. A long-term commitment to inclusive governance and development: While addressing the immediate crisis is paramount, the international community, particularly African nations, must commit to a sustained effort to support a genuinely inclusive political transition in Sudan, one that addresses the root causes of marginalisation and inequality. This includes investing in sustainable development, strengthening civil society and ensuring accountability for past and present human rights abuses. The Sudanese people deserve the right to self-determination, the right to live free from violence and hunger. The approaching rains are not just a meteorological event; they are a deadline for action, a test of our collective conscience. Will we stand idly by as Sudan is consumed by famine or will we rise up with the fierce and unwavering determination that this moment demands? The world is watching. History is judging. Let us not fail this test of our shared humanity. Lindani Zungu is a Mandela Rhodes scholar pursuing a master's in political studies while serving as the editor-in-chief of the youth-oriented publication, Voices of Mzansi .
