PNN – The British House of Commons session was accompanied by a wave of protest and strong condemnation against the recent crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza; the representatives criticized the government’s passive approach, emphasized the need for immediate sanctions against the Zionist authorities, and called for holding accountable those responsible for the killing of aid workers and ending Tel Aviv’s immunity from international law.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, at the meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister David Lammy and his deputy Hamish Falconer, the representatives asked frank questions and expressed disappointment at the government’s ineffective stance on the Zionist regime’s repeated violations of international law. They also called for a ban on exports from illegal settlements, punishment for the perpetrators of the murders of aid workers, and a ban on economic cooperation with entities linked to Zionist violence.
In response to a question from a representative who called for a ban on imports from illegal settlements, the British Deputy Foreign Secretary said: We have repeatedly stated that settlements are illegal and that their products do not benefit from any trade benefits. However, delegates expressed dissatisfaction with this stance and called for practical and comprehensive action against trade with settlements.
A member of parliament, referring to credible reports of the discovery of the bodies of 15 aid workers in a mass grave in Gaza, who had been killed wearing medical gloves and emergency clothing, said: These reports are horrific. Some of them were still treating the wounded when they were shot. This behavior is a clear violation of human rights and international law. Other representatives also called for an investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators, citing the testimony of dozens of aid workers from organizations such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent and the Al-Kar Relief Foundation.
Delegates at the meeting, which coincided with the anniversary of the Israeli army’s airstrike on World Food Programme staff and the killing of three British aid workers, accused London of inaction and inaction. Falconer said: We condemn this incident and demand an immediate and thorough investigation by the Israeli military prosecutor. However, lawmakers deemed this response inadequate and called for official pressure to prosecute the perpetrators.
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Representatives warn of complete destruction of Gaza
Citing the statements of the Israeli Minister of War regarding the threat of the complete destruction of Gaza, the representatives emphasized that it is no longer possible to respond to these behaviors with mere diplomatic language. One representative said: If the two-state solution is to remain, there must be a state for the Palestinians! The British Deputy Foreign Secretary responded by saying that he supported the Arab countries’ plan to rebuild Gaza, but did not provide a specific explanation of how London would participate in this regard.
MEPs repeatedly called on David Lammy to formally introduce new sanctions on settlements, halt military exports to Israel, and designate violent settler groups as terrorist organizations. In response, the British Foreign Secretary simply stated: “We imposed sanctions on three settler bases and four violent entities in October, and this case is still under review.”
Today’s session of the British House of Commons was held at a time when the atmosphere in Parliament was tenser than ever against Tel Aviv’s behavior. The large volume of protests, demands for sanctions, questions raised about the killing of aid workers, and complete distrust of the Zionist regime’s investigative process show that the gap between public opinion and the London government regarding Israel’s crimes is deepening day by day.
Last week, a Palestinian supporter disrupted a speech by the UK Trade and Commerce Secretary at the Chatham House think tank over the country’s continued arms support for the Zionist regime. While the UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was giving a speech at the Chatham House think tank in London, the protester climbed onto the stage and held a Palestinian flag and shouted: The government is still sending F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel and is “complicit in the crimes in Gaza.” He also chanted slogans such as “End arms support for Israel,” “Stop the crimes in Gaza,” and “Free Palestine.”
Security forces immediately intervened and removed the protester from the hall, but this action affected the atmosphere of the meeting for a few minutes and caused a reaction from the audience.
This comes at a time when protests against the continued export of arms from Britain to the Zionist regime have intensified in recent months, with many human rights organizations, academics, members of parliament, and Palestinian supporters calling for an immediate halt to London’s military cooperation with Tel Aviv.
The British government has suspended about 30 arms sales to Israel, but exports of F-35 fighter jet parts continue. London claims that this cooperation is in line with international frameworks, but critics and a number of MPs consider this approach to be contrary to London’s human rights obligations.
The Zionist regime launched a devastating war against the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 50,000 martyrs and tens of thousands injured. This war has not only caused widespread destruction of the region’s infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water and electricity supply networks, but has also led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, severe food shortages, and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Images released from Gaza show the complete destruction of residential neighborhoods, long lines of people waiting to receive the meager humanitarian aid, and hospitals unable to provide medical services due to a lack of medicine and fuel.