As Israeli gunboats attack civilians in Rafah, international calls for a ceasefire grow
Here’s the situation in Gaza now:
BREAKING| Israeli gunboats open fire at western Rafah, which shelters most of the displaced people in Rafah. pic.twitter.com/snkDw39MZF
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 17, 2024
Other parts of Gaza are still under attack, with horrifying civilian casualties there:
“My wife and son in the upper floor” 💔
A bereaved Palestinian citizen searches for his family after Israeli warplanes bombed his home yesterday in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/V8AoEt6Az2
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) February 19, 2024
In the UK, entertainers seem to have more humanity than politicians. Former Labour Party member (since expelled) and movie director Ken Loach was among those calling for a ceasefire at the Bafta awards ceremony:
Our patron @KenLoachSixteen and Paul Laverty called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at last night’s #EEBAFTAs. pic.twitter.com/hMSaM74tlB
— Peace & Justice Project (@corbyn_project) February 19, 2024
Mr Loach seems to have more in common with Labour voters than that party’s MPs. Polling shows that 83 per cent of them also want an end to the bloodshed with an immediate ceasefire:
🚨 83% of Labour voters think that Israel should stop the war and call an immediate ceasefire.
✅ Call a ceasefire: 83% (+6)
❌ Continue the war: 3% (-4)Despite this, Labour opposes a ceasefire.
Via @YouGov, 12-13 Feb (+/- vs 16 Nov) pic.twitter.com/tn8WaQLoAg
— Stats for Lefties 🇵🇸🏳️⚧️ (@LeftieStats) February 15, 2024
But look what happened when Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire was asked if she would support the motion for a ceasefire, due to be debated in Parliament on Wednesday:
The contempt Debbonaire shows for being asked whether she will support a ceasefire — staggering.
This is the Green’s primary target seat; and the Green Party has not equivocated in its support for ceasefire, negotiation, and regional de-escalation. pic.twitter.com/CrVknQrm31
— Philip Proudfoot (@PhilipProudfoot) February 18, 2024
Her interlocutor is right; whether a motion gives prominence to the attacks on Israel that took place on October 7 last year is neither here nor there when innocent civilians are being murdered by a heavily-armed military machine.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva knows this. And Asa Winstanley’s comment therefore seems right on the button:
The British Labour Party would definitely expel Lula. https://t.co/noQptcWwEH
— Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) February 19, 2024
In the United States, Susan Sarandon, an actress who lost representation by her agent because of her pro-Palestinian position, attended Congress in a bid to stop the US government passing a new Bill to give more money to the Israeli military. Her comments were well-made but This Writer fears they will have fallen on deaf ears because money talks louder:
“It’s a complete genocide. I have a right to object to my taxes being spent on a genocide.”
—American actress Susan Sarandon
— sarah (@sahouraxo) February 18, 2024
And in Spain a former government minister there has said out loud that her country, and the United States are complicit in Israel’s genocide through their arms trade agreements with that country:
Ione Belarra, former Spanish Minister for Social Rights and a political activist, contends that Spain and the US are complicit in genocide through their arms trade agreements with Israel.
— Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) February 19, 2024
The tide has well and truly turned on Israel.
But how long will the international community wait before demands for action change into direct action against our intractable politicians by members of the public themselves?
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