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Begin as you mean to go on. That is the defining position of Britain’s blueprint regarding Israel.

It was Britain that gave the colonial project that morphed into the state of Israel its initial blessing via the Balfour Declaration in 1917, to create the conditions for the establishment of a Jewish “national home” in historic Palestine – where Jews constituted less than 10 percent of the population at the time.

This laid the groundwork for the start of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. And at every step of the way, as Israel has consolidated its power and oppression, Britain’s blessing has been on hand. Israel’s latest attempt to wipe out Gaza is no different.

More than 4,000 Palestinians have been murdered, at least 1,000 of whom are children. At least 11 Palestinian journalists, 28 medical staff and 14 United Nations workers have been killed.

Residents of Gaza have been forced to dig wells near the sea to fetch water whilst hospitals – those that are still standing – are at full capacity and severely lacking power. 

Nowhere is considered safe in Gaza, especially as “safe routes” have been bombed by Israel and the only crossing that allows civilians to flee has been repeatedly struck.

Human rights experts have said Israel’s actions amount to collective punishment, a war crime under international law. It matters little since Israeli officials have not attempted to hide their intentions. 

‘The Emphasis Is on Damage’

“Gaza will become a place where no human can exist”, declared a retired Major General. “The emphasis is on damage, not accuracy”, proclaimed the IDF spokesperson.

This carnage has never been about Israel defending itself. The onslaught on Gaza, just like every other time, is another excuse to implement the strategic objective of annihilating the Palestinians, or as Israel calls it, “mowing the lawn”.

And as a British Palestinian, it will forever be etched in my memory how my fellow citizens were being mercilessly slaughtered, and the British political class gave Israel its full-throated, unconditional support.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offered multiple versions of the same moral backing, from “full solidarity” to promising to always “stand” with Israel. He continued to echo those sentiments when he landed in Israel on Thursday, yet could not answer when asked if he would call for Israeli restraint.

As the barbarity of today’s atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel.

This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved.

We have expressed our full solidarity to @netanyahu and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support.

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 7, 2023

"Will you be urging restraint on the Israeli government regarding civilians in Gaza?"@mattfrei asks Rishi Sunak if he will call for restraint during the Prime Minister's visit to Israel. pic.twitter.com/l7rtIBqatw

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 19, 2023

The lobbying group Conservative Friends of Israel was once described as “the largest organisation in Western Europe dedicated to the cause of the people of Israel”. It consequently makes the unwavering championship of Israel among the Conservative hierarchy unsurprising.

Right to Commit Crimes

But the Labour Party is now operating on the same spineless wavelength. As Israel pounded Gaza, party leader Keir Starmer regurgitated the robotic recitations about Israel’s right to defend itself. 

The former human rights lawyer then insisted Israel has the “right” to withhold power and water from Gaza, even as UN experts made clear the imposition of sieges that endanger lives of civilians are prohibited under international law.

The fish ostensibly rots from the head. Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry could not answer whether Israel cutting off power supplies to Gaza is in line with international law. 

On Israel’s evacuation orders that have displaced thousands of Palestinians, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy failed to condemn them.

As Labour councillors across the country resigned en masse to protest against their party’s complicity, Starmer’s feeble letter in response made no mention of a ceasefire and maintained the line simply that Israel has the right to defend itself.