THE unfolding horror of the Palestinian people in Gaza has been called “a defining global justice issue of our time.” 

An important truth, and fundamental human rights have been lost in the rhetoric of this conflict. Human rights are universal and apply to all.

But today, in Israel and Palestine, and in Britain, these rights are qualified by which side  of the political divide you are on. 

Britain “Stands with Israel,” and by doing so, Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak have committed themselves to a course of action which could land Britain in court for war crimes.

On October 7 2023, Hamas fighters stormed into Israeli towns, killing 1,300 Israelis and abducting hundreds more. There are an estimated 200 captives still being held hostage by Hamas inside Gaza. 

The offensive has been deemed “Israel’s 9/11” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s “darkest hour.”

Hamas has continued to launch airstrikes targeting south and central Israel. Israel has said that there will be no end to the siege without the release of the Israeli hostages. 

Some 73 highly respected and trusted international NGOs — including Action Aid UK, Cafod, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Water Aid, Medecin Sans Frontiers, War on Want and Islamic Relief — are urging the British Prime Minister to “urgently help secure a ceasefire and uphold the UK’s responsibilities to prevent further escalation and more lives being lost.”

The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, describes Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip and vow to impose a complete siege on the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave as “nothing less than genocidal.”

A United Nations expert has warned that “Palestinians are in grave danger of mass ethnic cleansing and called on the international community to urgently mediate a ceasefire between the warring Hamas and Israeli occupation forces.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, said: “Israel has already carried out mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians under the fog of war.” 

While the international NGOs and many countries around the world are regarding the conflict as a humanitarian crisis which will require the co-operation of Hamas, the Israeli government and the international community to bring lasting peace to the region, the British government stands on the sidelines seemingly powerless to act to effect a ceasefire.

Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference, said he was “proud” to stand with Israel and that the British government “wants you to win.”

But what would that “victory” look like?

How many will die? 

What will remain of Israel and Palestine by the time this conflict ends?

Following international pressure, Israel has finally agreed to let some aid trickle into Gaza from Egypt. 

But Israel has continued to launch rockets across Gaza and is preparing to launch a ground invasion which could increase the bloodshed on both sides — apparently with the full support of the British government.

Britain does not recognise Palestinian statehood, nor — it would seem — their human rights. 

There are fears that unless the British government acts to assist the bringing about of an immediate ceasefire in the region, that continued conflict and loss of thousands of lives will fuel anger and division at home. 

Despite the brutality of the Hamas attack, and the complexity of the hostage situation, the British policy to “stand with Israel” is rapidly losing credibility and support both in Britain and abroad. 

It is now impossible for Britain to successfully equate the collective punishment of over two million people deprived of food, water, fuel and medical supplies and denied any escape while air strikes destroy their homes, schools and hospitals with what Suella Braverman has described as a “legitimate Israeli defensive measure.”

The chairman of the Finsbury Park Mosque, Mohammed Kobzar, claims that the British government and Labour opposition are engaging in a divisive rhetoric which is causing concerns within Muslim communities.

Kobzar said that activists are being singled out for their pro-Palestine activism. In a statement to London World Kobzar said: “We have witnessed Muslim women scared to go out alone because some of them have been attacked and abused. We have heard reports of students being intimidated in university; Muslim doctors being maliciously reported for the pro-Palestine stances.

“This has led to a worrying, chilling effect and fear within our congregation. We hope and pray that this war will end soon and urge our politicians to call for an immediate ceasefire so many innocent lives from both sides can be saved.”

With each passing report of further deaths, injury and destruction in the occupied territories, the risk that this conflict will spill onto Britain’s streets increases — if our government does not act to bring about a ceasefire and recognise the legitimate concerns that many in Britain and around the world hold over the treatment of Palestinians.

Across Britain, groups are planning to attend the Palestine Solidarity Campaign national protest in London today. 

But punitive new measures contained within the Policing Act to restrict peaceful process which causes more than “minimal disruption” could be used to clamp down on protesters.

Liberty says the government is shutting down accountability in Parliament, through the courts, on the streets and in civil society.  

The civil rights organisation has been granted permission to take legal action against the Home Secretary’s decision to sign off anti-protest legislation previously rejected by Parliament. 

Akiko Hart, Liberty interim director, said: “The Home Secretary’s actions give the police almost unlimited powers to stop any protest the government doesn’t agree with — and the way she has done it is unlawful.”

Human Rights Watch said: “The UK’s human rights record is in significant decline. It has introduced laws that violate rights and aim to dismantle the international protection framework.”

The British government human rights obligations are undermined by its aggressive domestic anti-rights agenda and refusal to acknowledge its own serious violation of rights. 

The rift between British policy on the conflict, and the outrage being felt by MPs, councillors and the public at the scenes in Gaza is causing political disruption and instability, with resignations within both the Conservative and the Labour Party.

Kensington and Chelsea Councillor Mona Ahmed informed Anadolu Media that “nobody will forget how Starmer chose to be a cheerleader of war crimes and collective punishment. He could have called for de-escalation but instead he contributed to the chorus of voices which enabled the genocide we are now seeing. 

“Arab and Muslim communities will not forget this.”

There is a widespread belief among campaigners and activists that expressions of solidarity and support for Palestinians are being silenced and those who are calling out Israel’s human rights abuses are being painted as extremist mobs. 

Braverman posted on X about a peaceful protest in London, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign: “Last weekend an intimidating mob marched through London chanting ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,’ a slogan that is widely understood as a demand for the destruction of Israel. Attempts to pretend otherwise are disingenuous.”

The Home Secretary has written to the Metropolitan Police suggesting that waving a Palestinian flag or singing the widely known chant supporting freedom for Palestinians “may be a criminal offence.”

Braverman concluded her statement, saying that “sadly whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists, racists and elements of the hard left use legitimate Israeli defensive measures as an excuse to stir up hatred against Jews.”

In 2019, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced an investigation into war crimes allegedly committed in Palestine by Israeli personnel or members of Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups since June 13 2014. 

The Palestinian ambassador to Britain said: “This is time for Karim Khan [prosecutor of the International Criminal Court] and the ICC to investigate the white phosphorus and crimes committed from all sides, and we shall accept full responsibility.”

The Palestinian ambassador also said that international actors, including the US and Britain, “should stop blocking the ICC” from doing its work.

Conservative MP Crispin Blunt says of Britain’s support for Israel’s invasions of Gaza: “The fact of being complicit makes you equally guilty to the party carrying out the crime.

Britain’s refusal or inability to develop a humanitarian policy on the conflict, could see Britain standing with Israel answering charges of war crimes against the Palestinian people — our record on human rights at home and abroad in tatters and faith in our democracy in ruins.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign national protest takes place in London today, between midday and 3pm at Marble Arch, London.