An open letter to Labour in light of the response to the Israel-Palestine conflict
I am certain you feel the same horror as myself at the situation that continues to unfold in Israel and Palestine. There is no doubt that illegal atrocities have been committed by Hamas, necessitating immediate and transparent investigation. However, as Israel appears to be on the cusp of launching a systematic process of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, I would like to know why Labour have adopted a policy of paving the way for these imminent war crimes, indiscriminately justifying Israel’s military response.
We need compassionate and level-headed leadership at this terrible time, not self-serving political cynicism. As a likely (albeit reluctant) Labour voter in the coming election, I would suggest that this is an opportunity for Mr. Starmer to demonstrate something of his self-professed fundamental respect for human rights, to call for a deescalation of violence, the opening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza, a scaling back of the illegal blockade of food, water and electricity, and a relentless push for diplomatic and peaceful negotiations.
In the light of the dispassionate response to the plight of the Palestinian people of the majority of mainstream British politicians on both sides of the chamber, I have never been more ashamed to be British. Israelis and Palestinians all deserve peace and compassion. I pray that we won’t have to look back on this sequence of events as one of the darkest moments in our collective humanity.