Day 10: War in the Middle East:
Israel is preparing a ground offensive into the north of Gaza, while families who fled south are about to run out of water, electricity and food. The UN, religious leaders and aid agencies are appealing for humanitarian corridors to open, to relieve the impending catastrophe.
Tens of thousands take part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations this weekend
Demonstrations against Israel’s actions in Gaza took place in cities around the world with the flying of Palestinian flags and chanting against Israel, calling for an end to Israeli occupation and its bombing campaign. In the UK, the demonstrations were organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of Al-Aqsa, whose chair said the demonstration was not a Jewish Muslim issue, it was about Israel occupying Palestinian land. British Palestinians have told reporters they are fearful for the fate of their family members trapped inside Gaza with no means of escape.
British Jews living in fear after the large demonstrations
Stephen Pollard, editor of The Jewish Chronicle, wrote of his fear following the demonstrations in London, saying he was unsettled – frightened – more than from any such demo before and says he now understands how the holocaust happened, how “a Jew hating mob got their way” because everyone else averted their eyes. He said he had shed tears when reading a tweet from the historian Tom Holland, that society had a responsibility to make Jewish citizens feel valued and safe, showing that Jews are not alone.
4,000 British Jews tune into online meeting in response to the crisis in the UK
Jewish News reports that 4,000 people joined an online gathering, called by several prominent Jewish leadership groups, where police and the CEO of the Community Security Trust explained the measures in place to protect British Jews. The meeting was told that counter terrorism officers have been based at the CST all week to act on antisemitic attacks and the police are making more arrests. There was advice to ensure that crimes reported were antisemitic in intention before sharing widely. IDF spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner, explained action on the ground in Israel to find the terrorists and regain control in the south. Story is here
Muslim World League calls for immediate cessation of military escalation
The Muslim World League, which represents Muslims in all Islamic countries and all sects, has issued a strongly worded statement condemning “in the strongest possible terms” the calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza. It warns of a humanitarian disaster and says the calls are a flagrant violation of all humanitarian and international laws and customs. It is calling for an immediate cessation of military escalation, lifting the siege of Gaza, allowing people and humanitarian aid to flow and reaching a just solution. The Secretary General of the League, which is based in Saudi Arabia, is religious leader Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdul Karim al-Issa, known as a moderate.
Twelve aid agencies say government must ensure International Humanitarian Law is upheld in Gaza
A joint statement to the government from 12 aid agencies – Oxfam GB, Action Against Hunger, War Child, Islamic Relief, Christian Aid, CAFOD, Plan International UK, Humanity and Inclusion, Action Aid UK, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Care International UK, Norwegian Refugee Council – says the UK should be using its influence to ensure International Humanitarian Law is upheld, that civilians are protected in accordance with those laws, and that they have access to critical lifesaving humanitarian support. They say they are horrified by the escalating violence and mounting deaths and nothing can justify the targeting of civilians. Hostages should be released and humanitarian needs met.
Christian leaders appeal for violence to stop
The Archbishop of Canterbury has appealed for the evacuation order on hospitals in northern Gaza to be reversed and for health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians to be protected. His appeal followed a rocket attack on the Anglican Ahli hospital in Gaza, which injured four staff. In a tweet, he said: “The evil and barbaric attacks on Israelis by Hamas were a blasphemous outrage, but the civilians of Gaza are not responsible for the crimes of Hamas. Pope Francis has re-issued an urgent appeal for both sides to stop the violence spilling innocent blood. He renewed his appeal for hostages to be released and demanded that children, the elderly, women and civilians were not harmed.
Jewish students and chaplains urge vice chancellors to protect them on campus
The Union of Jewish Students and the University Jewish Chaplaincy organisations have written to every vice chancellor in the country to ask for an assurance that they will protect the safety, wellbeing and inclusivity of Jewish students on university campuses. The letter says the Jewish community is in a deep state of shock and mourning for those massacred by Hamas in southern Israel, which has sent shockwaves through the community. It urges vice chancellors to “condemn the glorification of terrorism and antisemitism” and says there should be zero support for Hamas.
FA’s Faith group chair resigns over failure to light Wembley arch in Israeli colours
Rabbi Alex Goldberg has resigned as chair of the Football Association’s Faith in Football group, over the refusal to light up the Wembley arch in the colours of Israel from Friday night’s England game. He said the compromise allowing players to wear black arm bands and ban Israeli and Palestinian flags, was not enough and looked like a form of moral equivalence. The Daily Mail reports that Rabbi Alex told the FA that the Faith in Football group will no longer work with the governing body.
Six year old Muslim boy stabbed to death in Chicago
A six year old Muslim boy living in Chicago has been stabbed to death by the family’s landlord, with allegations that he singled out the boy and his mother because of their faith and as a response to the war. A 71-year-old man has been charged with murder and hate crime. The boy’s mother was also attacked and seriously wounded, and is recovering in hospital.
Welsh government declines to fly the Israeli flag after Muslim concerns
The Welsh government decided not to display the Israeli flag after representations from the Muslim Council of Wales. In their submission, they say it would be an unequivocal statement of support for the occupation of Gaza by Israel, which has turned it into an open prison. Many Palestinian families living in Wales would feel it undermined the idea of Wales being a nation of sanctuary for refugees. They were pleased the government decided not to fly the flag.
End the “virus of fundamentalism” to end the war
Matthew Syed, writing in The Times, says the middle east conflict will only end once the germ of fanaticism is expunged. Diplomacy or reconfiguring borders will not work: “Until the virus of fundamentalism is contained, until its mechanisms of transmission are severed, this is futile. Quoting Christopher Hitchens, he says religious conviction is often the most potent weapon of barbarity, continuing: “Fundamentalists lack that most civilising of human virtues: doubt. They have absolute truth, the certified word of God, so they are not merely justified in slaughtering infidels; they would be failing in their duty if they did not do so”. His comment is here
