Prime minister Netanyahu says he is trying to destroy Hamas, free the remaining Israeli hostages, and place Gaza under his country’s military control. So far, he claims he is letting “just enough” food into Gaza, insisting the war could end if Hamas returned hostages, laid down its arms, agreed for its leaders to go into exile and Gaza was demilitarised. “No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won’t,” he said.
While supporting Israel’s right to defend its citizens, they said they “strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza”, adding, “the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable”. Only five trucks made it into Gaza on Monday, as Israeli troops advanced and air and artillery strikes killed more Palestinian civilians including many young children.
Up after the premier, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs the UK is suspending free trade talks with Israel over its “egregious” behaviour. Middle East minister Hamish Falconer is set to summon the Israeli ambassador, Tzipi Hotovely, to explain herself – a piece of diplomatic theatre than nonetheless allows real private anger to be conveyed.
Louis Theroux’s recent BBC documentary The Settlers included an interview with Weiss about Israel’s gradual and illegal settlement of the occupied West Bank and her plans to do the same in Gaza. In the film, Weiss, seen as the godmother of the settler projects, explained how she plans to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza and force other countries to take them in. Targeting Weiss, the 79-year-old leader of the far-right settler organisation Nachala, is both highly symbolic and at the same time the lowest of low-hanging diplomatic fruit.
Earlier this month finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said “Gaza will be entirely destroyed” as a result of an Israeli military victory, and that its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries”, raising fears of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory. Where are the sanctions for these politicians?
square PATRICK COCKBURN Israel is now a Middle East superpower
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But video from a victim’s phone, released by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, contradicted Israel’s story. A child who witnessed the killings was later deliberately shot, his father claimed.
Across world capitals there is a sense that time is running out for Bibi, as the Israeli leader is known. Sanctions against Israel now look increasingly probable. British officials are also debating whether to take the enormous step to recognise Palestine as an independent state.
The UK has also talked about Palestinian recognition with the French but The i Paper understands the UK Government wants to make sure this option is deployed at the moment where it will make the maximum impact. “You can only do it once,” a senior Whitehall source said. “So, you need to do it when it would make the most impact.” That could be in June, but the French have yet to make up their minds. The current situation may accelerate that thinking. MPs are already pushing for a vote to give Palestinian statehood.
Resisting strongly against further sanctions and recognition of Palestinian statehood, Israel has repeatedly warned that such actions would amount to a victory for Hamas. But it’s an argument now running out of traction in London and further afield. Patience has worn out and won’t be restored.
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