Even the “i” is streets ahead of the warmongering BBC, which seems to have been told to preface every mention of Israeli killing of Gazans with the attack on 7 Oct, and statements from fello-genocodophiles like Sunak and Biden about Israel’s right to defend itself by continuing to flatten Gaza and it’s occupants.
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24/10/23 i morning briefing: Why aren’t Britain and the US demanding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas? By Jacqui Housden
As Rishi Sunak sought to update the House of Commons yesterday on the outcome of his recent trip to Israel, a number of MPs used the moment to make impassioned calls for a ceasefire. Tory MP Crispin Blunt, a co-director of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, said it was a “watershed moment” between a “killing field in Gaza” or “a ceasefire and the opportunity to bring necessary aid there”. Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf spoke with reporters to deliver a plea from his wife, whose family are in Gaza “not to just ask for the border to be opened, but to demand that the Rafah Crossing is opened and there’s a ceasefire right now”. The calls came on the same day that Israel allowed 200 journalists to witness horrific bodycam footage of the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October, and also as it intensified its bombing campaign of the enclave. It’s not yet clear when Israel might launch a full ground invasion. “We want to bring Hamas to a state of full dismantling,” Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said on Monday. “The path is a path of unrelenting attacks, damaging Hamas everywhere and in every way.” International diplomacy efforts have been focused on securing the passage of humanitarian aid into the region as the situation there becomes extremely dire. But while Mr Sunak and Joe Biden are clear on the need for food and medicines for the 2.2 million residents of Gaza, they’re not currently advocating for a ceasefire. Why? We’ll take a look, after the headlines.
What have international leaders said about a ceasefire?
Who is calling for a ceasefire? So far 73 British MPs have signed a parliamentary motion calling for an immediate ceasefire. Last week the UN chief António Guterres called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, and the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, has also called for one to allow more aid in. The UN fears without fuel, which has not been part of the aid sent in so far, hospitals and other essential services will be without power.A number of EU leaders are also set to back a “pause” in fighting in a confidential draft statement seen by The Telegraph. The paper also says that the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has argued that a halt to bombing would allow more time to negotiate with Hamas for the release of hostages. Yesterday Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin reiterated Ireland’s call for a ceasefire, saying it was a matter of “utmost urgency, the loss of life is enormous, is at a scale that has to be stopped.” Last week the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution proposed by Russia, which called for a “humanitarian ceasefire”, but also failed to specifically condemn the attacks by Hamas. China has also attempted to cast itself as a mediator for peace, but is yet to explicitly rebuke Hamas. Overnight, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Israel’s Eli Cohen the conflict was a “major choice between war and peace”.
What have Sunak and Biden said? Both leaders have been keen to stress Israel’s right to defend itself, but Mr Biden has also been clear that no further steps can be taken on efforts to negotiate a ceasefire until Hamas releases all of the hostages. Yesterday Rishi Sunak, responding to Crispin Blunt, said: “It is difficult to tell Israel to have a ceasefire when it is still facing rocket fire on an almost daily basis, and when its citizens are still being held hostage and it has suffered an appalling terrorist attack where it has a right to defend itself. But as I have said it is important that that is done in accordance with international law and it’s important that Israel takes every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.” He also told Labour’s Zarah Sultana, who is demanding an immediate ceasefire as well as condemnation of Israel, that: “There is a significant difference between a terrorist organisation that deliberately and specifically targeted… killing, mutilation and murder of innocent civilians including children and women and babies a couple of weeks ago, and Israel’s lawful right to defend itself and go after those perpetrators.” The US president has made clear that Washington will not consider backing a ceasefire until all kidnapped hostages are released. “We should have those hostages released and then we can talk,” Mr Biden told reporters on Monday. And White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CNN: ” I thought the message was pretty clear to Hamas: ‘release all the hostages’. That needs to be the first move here. We don’t believe that this is the time for a ceasefire. Israel has a right to defend themselves. They still have work to do to go after Hamas leadership.” State Department spokesman Mathew Miller also said: “What we will continue to do, with respect to this question, is focus on getting humanitarian assistance in to Gaza.”
What happens now? Today the UN Security Council meets on the conflict, where a US-drafted resolution on the conflict is expected to be voted on. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is said to be attending the meeting, along with the foreign minister of Israel, the Palestinians, Iran, Jordan, France and Brazil. According to the Associated Press, the text was still being negotiated late on Monday. However reports say it will call for the release of the hostages Hamas is holding and emphasise Israel’s right to defend itself. It is also expected to urge Iran to stop exporting arms to militias and terrorist groups in the region. The AP says the resolution urges respect for international laws on conducting war and protecting civilians, urges all countries to intensify efforts to prevent a spillover, and demands immediate humanitarian access to Gaza. According to Axios, it does not call for a ceasefire. Russia is expected to veto it.