The UK government is being urged to reassess its diplomatic relations with Israel and Palestine. According to a report from the Daily Record, Humza Yousaf has called on the UK Government to hold Israel accountable for its actions during the war in Gaza. The First Minister expressed concern that Israel’s response to the Hamas attack on October 7 was disproportionate. He believes that the UK Government should publicly address this issue with Israel.
UK supporting Israel
An analysis of the UK government’s diplomatic relations with Israel and Palestine reveals its discrimination against Palestinians. According to information from Embassies.gov.il, the British Government officially recognised the State of Israel on April 27, 1950, becoming one of the first nations to establish diplomatic relations with the new country. However, in the current Palestine-Israel conflict, there are concerns about the UK government’s actions, which some perceive as favouring Israel over Palestinians.
As reported by New Arab, the US opposed two consecutive ceasefire resolutions during Israel’s war on Gaza, and the UK also refrained from supporting these motions, indicating alignment with Washington’s stance. Humza Yousaf, as mentioned in the Daily Record, has urged the UK Government to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. The First Minister believes that Israel’s response to the Hamas attack on October 7 has exceeded what could be considered a legitimate response. He suggests that the UK Government should openly address and criticise Israel for its actions.
An End to “Indiscriminate Attacks“
According to Daily Record, Yousaf has urged Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to use the UK’s position as a trusted ally of Israel to demand an end to “indiscriminate attacks.” These attacks have seen thousands of children in Gaza killed.
David Cameron’s dishonesty
According to Times of Israel, British Foreign Minister David Cameron has announced a ban on “extremist settlers” from Israel entering the UK. He aims “to make sure our country cannot be a home for people who commit these intimidating acts.”
In a post on X, Cameron emphasised the negative impact of extremist settlers targeting and killing Palestinian civilians, stressing the need for stronger action from Israel to curb settler violence and ensure accountability for perpetrators. However, there appears to be doubt regarding Cameron’s sincerity on this matter. It is suggested that the UK government should consider halting the provision of financial and military aid to Israel as a means to protect civilians and demonstrate a transparent stance.
Displacement of Gazans
The Israeli government aims to displace Gazans and occupy Gaza. According to Daily Record, hearing comments from an Israeli Minister urging the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is very disturbing. Such comments should be universally condemned. Gaza is an Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state. The people of Gaza should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza.
According to Commons Library, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates 85% of Gaza’s population is displaced. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, says humanitarian work in Gaza is “not sustainable”.
Critical condition in Gaza
As the UK Government website says, it is heartbreaking to read the latest assessment of hunger in Gaza. The situation is desperate – and expected to get worse. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), Gazans do not have access to enough food. Nine out of every ten Palestinians in northern Gaza may be eating less than one meal a day.
Families are displaced, and sanitation is close to non-existent. With these conditions, disease and illness will spread. Around 40% of Gaza’s population is under 15 years old. Despair and death haunt these children’s lives.
Despite such a description of GAZA’s condition on the UK Government website, why does the UK government send financial and military aid to Israel? The UK government is using British taxpayers’ money to aid Israel to kill civilians in Gaza!
Israeli self-defence or terrorism
The UK is supporting Israel’s terrorism while calling it Israel’s right to self-defence! According to the UK Government website, David Cameron says he does not want to see the Palestine-Israel conflict go on a moment longer than necessary. However, this means achieving a sustainable ceasefire. The ceasefire should last and prevent another generation of children from living under the continuous threat of war. He says, “That means no more Hamas and its rocket attacks and commitment to terror”. Mr Cameron asks, “How can we alleviate suffering while supporting Israel’s right to self-defence?” As Times of Israel says, Britain has backed Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas attacks.
There are two strange points of note here. First, Hamas is fighting to save the occupied lands of Palestine, and Mr Cameron refers to Hamas’s act as “terror”. Second, He refers to Israeli terrorism and the killing of Palestinian civilians as “self-defence”.
UK supporting an unfair two-state solution
The UK government’s diplomatic relations with Israel and Palestine show absolute discrimination. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday (November 13 2023), referred to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said it is the “only answer that can allow a new future to be born” (Anadolu Ajansi).
Palestinian lands are occupied by a foreign power called Zionism. Its purpose is to gather as many Zionists as possible.
Palestinians are displaced from their occupied lands. Ignoring this fact, the UK Government is denying Palestinian people the right to self-defend and free their lands. However, the UK Government is supporting Israel’s so-called self-defence.
Zionists have occupied the lands of Palestine and established a country called Israel. It does not make sense to propose a two-state solution to the conflict between Palestine and the occupying Zionists. The UK Government must stop supporting the occupiers of Palestine. It must take action to support humanity and the oppressed people of Gaza.