🔗 Share this article

This week, a United Nations panel concluded that Israeli forces is committing genocide in Palestinian territories. This verdict was widely anticipated, given that rarely have nations in history have been so explicit about their intentions.

Consider these instances: Months ago, Bezalel Smotrich announced that “the strip must be entirely destroyed”; soon afterwards, the country’s premier asserted that its forces are “demolishing more and more houses throughout the territory,” leaving civilians with no place to go.

Official Position

At the beginning of this month, David Lammy wrote a communication to the chair of a parliamentary body, stating that “ministers has thoroughly reviewed the possibility of genocide” and does not believe that Israeli authorities is acting with genocidal intent. Why would separate organizations reach opposite conclusions?

UK authorities avoids making a verdict on genocide because should it, it would need to confront its role.

Alignment with Allies

Regarding foreign and military policy, the British government works in alignment with the US, Tel Aviv’s key partner. Britain still supply Israel with essential elements for military planes bombing Gaza and its people.

Aircraft engaged in this bombing have been allowed to land in the UK. Authorities continues to share intelligence with Israel. Britain operates ongoing reconnaissance missions over Gaza.

And rather than impose comprehensive restrictions, UK officials promote commerce with Israel worth £6bn a year.

Hypocrisy

As Isaac Herzog – whose extreme comments about group accountability – is awarded the honour of an official visit, numerous activists holding banners denouncing violence have been arrested as though they are security threats.

Each step regarding Israel has been symbolic, meant to dampen calls for action from the citizens. After all, most British people think it’s probable Israel has breached humanitarian standards, over half backs an military restrictions, a small fraction think Israel’s assault on Gaza is acceptable, and a majority support legal action against the leader for possible atrocities.

Individual Tragedies

The lives of those from Gaza are seen as less important than preserving ties with Israel and, indirectly, the US. At the personal level, this policy plays out in the harshest of ways.

A Palestinian refugee, a voter of a senior politician, got to know her on multiple times. He hosted her at his business in 2019 and took photos, saying “solidarity with Gaza”. They toured on a trip to Westminster.

Within weeks the violence erupting in October 2023, his parent, brother, relative and two family members were died due to an attack. Seeking to rescue his loved ones – who had been trapped in debris on multiple occasions – he contacted the official repeatedly asking for support.

He reports he received no response. Earlier this year, he went to a party gathering where he got to his feet, holding pictures of his lost family, begging for a ce ceasefire and saying passionately, “My relatives were killed in Gaza”.

The distressing incident was on camera: he was aggressively ejected from the event and outside. The minister remained passive, except to say “thank you, you’ve made your point”. Later distanced herself on social media.

Shortly after, she was questioned by media, where the incident was framed as an example of security concerns for leaders, linking it to the deaths of MPs. Since then, numerous of his relatives have been killed that the victims take up extensive notes of a journal.

Hypothetical Situations

Consider an Israeli citizen had been forcibly removed from the event of a politician they had met previously, after clutching pictures of their dead relatives and pleading for the violence to end. In contrast to being framed as an example of harassment suffered by politicians, the resulting uproar would be featured in newspapers and be widely reported.

Conclusion

Ministers is avoiding hard facts. It denies genocide, because recognizing it would mean confessing their role. The truth, in the end, will out.