- Gaza conflict raises concerns
- Politicians call for ceasefire
- Israel’s actions face criticism
In its conflict with Hamas, Israel has “gone beyond self-defense” and lost moral authority, according to the chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee.
Alicia Kearns, a member of the Conservative Party, stated that she believes Israel has violated international law and that Egypt’s support for Hamas could increase.
She asserted that ideologies cannot be eradicated by bombs and that a stable state cannot be built upon oblivion.
Additionally, former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has criticised the tactics of Israel.
He wrote in the Daily Telegraph that the legal foundation for Israel’s military action in Gaza was “undermining” and that the Israeli government was “erroneously jeopardising its moral authority in addition to its legal one.
When asked whether she concurred with Mr. Wallace that Israel’s actions in Gaza have harmed its reputation, Ms. Kearns responded, “Unfortunately, I believe so.
I consider an international humanitarian law violation to have occurred.
She advocated for the pursuit of a potential enduring ceasefire rather than solely concentrating on the eradication of Hamas, an organisation deemed a terrorist organisation by Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States, and certain other Western powers.
Ten Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs), including former Cabinet ministers George Eustice and Kit Malthouse, have urged Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron in a letter to advocate for an “immediate ceasefire” and condemn Israel’s strategy as “neither proportionate nor targeted.”
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Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has stated that Israel will continue operations until dismantling Hamas, which commenced on October 7th when the organization launched an unprecedented assault on Israel.
Approximately 240 individuals were captured as hostages by Hamas; of these, 120 are believed to be within Gaza at present, even though some were repatriated during a temporary ceasefire.
Ms. Kearns, the chairman of the parliamentary committee charged with scrutinising the Foreign Office, cautioned that Israel might unintentionally bolster Palestinian support for Hamas.
She stated that Hamas is an ideology that recruits individuals to join its ranks.
The Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, a reputable Palestinian think tank, conducted an opinion poll from November 22 to December 2 and found that support for Hamas in the occupied West Bank had more than tripled in comparison to three months prior.
Although Hamas supporters remained a minority, 70% of respondents believed that armed conflict was the most effective method to end the Israeli occupation.
International pressure on Israel has increased in light of the more than 18,000 civilian casualties reported by Hamas-controlled authorities in Gaza.
According to the same authorities, Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp on Sunday claimed the lives of 110 people. Before the current conflict, the camp had been the largest settlement for displaced people.
The Israeli retaliatory offensive has damaged an excessive portion of northern Gaza, displacing 85 per cent of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants.
By advocating for a “sustainable ceasefire” on Sunday, Lord Cameron indicated a change in stance from the government, mirroring language used by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons the previous week.
In an article for the Sunday Times, the foreign secretary stated, “A simple cessation of hostilities today is insufficient. Peace must endure across generations, years, and even days.”
International Reactions to Gaza Conflict
Mr Sunak urged Israel to abide by humanitarian law while speaking to reporters on Monday in Scotland. He further stated, “It is indisputable that an unacceptable number of civilian lives have been lost, and no one wants this conflict to continue for another day longer than necessary.”
Statedly, the government has refrained from advocating for a complete cessation of hostilities, opting instead to uphold Israel’s prerogative to defend itself.
A spokesman for the Israeli government, Eylon Levy, refuted Mr Wallace’s criticism by labelling his word selection “unfortunate language.”
He stated that permitting Hamas to “literally get away with murder” would radicalise individuals more than Israel’s military strategies.
The chief of the Palestinian mission in the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot, condemned “the mass destruction of hospitals, schools, churches, and mosques” and “the mass murder of children and women.”
