Arley Armfield—Prime Minister Keir Starmer has claimed that he is ‘well aware’ of the definition of genocide in PMQ’s last week and it Is not applicable to Israel’s siege in Gaza and the West Bank.
Ayoub Khan, a member of the new Independent Alliance alongside Jeremy Corbyn, questioned Keir Starmer over the conflict in Gaza of whether it constitutes to a genocide or not.
Khan carefully reminded Keir Starmer that genocide is not decided by numbers, but military intent is what makes something a genocide or not.
Starmer quickly deflected this carefully thought-out question by answering that he is ‘well aware of the definition of genocide’ and that is why he has never labelled Israel’s actions as a genocide.
This is largely controversial due to the recent International Court of Justice ruling following the case brought by South Africa that Israel is conducting a genocide in the West Bank and Gaza.
The ICJ cannot order countries to stop their military operations, yet its opinions hold lots of weight within the UN and the court ruled that the case for genocide can be further investigated, which makes Starmer’s comments even more unusual, as there is in fact an ongoing investigation.
Jeremy Corbyn and the fellow Independent Alliance sent a letter challenging Keir Starmer’s words and reminding him of the ICJ’s January ruling and that he is ‘downplaying the suffering of Palestinians’.
The Alliance has questioned whether Starmer has sought or received and legal advice from the UN Attorney General about the definition of genocide and what is his government doing to prevent genocide.
Overall, it is worrying the amount of unwavering support the establishment offers Israel even after more and more damning evidence comes out about the siege in Gaza and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
Photo by Ömer Faruk Yıldız
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