Loss of life and loss of respect

Posted By: Ibrar Khan
Date Posted: 08/01/2009

Since I last posted about Israel's attack on Gaza, the number of Palestinian deaths has more than doubled. Schools continue to be bombed and children killed. All in the name of punishing Hamas.

For the record, I want Hamas to stop firing rockets at Israel and to do everything they can to bring about a peaceful resolution. War will never achieve a lasting solution. They must sit down for talks and negotiate a peaceful settlement.

But their stubbornness does not justify the mass slaughter that Israel has caused. Israel stands guilty of horrendous war crimes. It is hard to dwell on the barbaric scenes that are taking place in Gaza. Hard to speak of the unspeakable acts being committed. But to listen to anger expressed by humanitarian aid workers trying to help says it all.

Today I see the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have accused Israel of failing in its international obligations after its staff were met with "shocking" scenes.

One medical team found 12 bodies in a shelled house, and alongside them four very young children, too weak to stand, waiting by their dead mothers. Aid workers had been denied access to the site for days.

“The Israeli military must have been aware of the situation but did not assist the wounded. Neither did they make it possible for us or the Palestinian Red Crescent to assist the wounded,” said Pierre Wettach, ICRC head for Israel and the Palestinian teritories.

And remember, this is a neutral organisation.

One organisation that is not neutral, however, is the Britain Israel Research and Communications Centre. The comments made by its chief executive, Rochdale’s former MP, Lorna Fitzsimmons, have generated much anger in our community. So much so that I have to speak out against my former colleague for acting like a cheerleader for the mass slaughter of innocent victims.

She has not shown any compassion or understanding for the lives of innocent Palestinians that are being blown to bits by the Israeli military. Lorna promised a great deal but has become a sad mercenary.

Remember that this was the woman who used to be president of the National Union of Students, an organisation that has continually campaigned for justice for the Palestinian people and has called for an immediate end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Remember, too, that this was the woman who was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Robin Cook, a man of integrity who resigned with great honour from the Government over Iraq.

Has she not learnt anything? Or is the generous remuneration of her employer so great that she can buy off her conscience and happily promote mass bloodshed?

Like many I feel anger and disappointment when I hear people casually justifying Israel’s brutal mass murder. Yet despite this, I know our political leaders are working hard to try and bring about peace and I still have great faith in the political process. I would urge anyone who wants this bloodshed to be stopped to write to their MP urging him to help.

Earlier this week, I noted that the Young Muslims Advisory Group wrote to our Prime Minister expressing their concerns. Their letter reads:

"We are in grave danger of sending a message to youth today that the mass murder of civilians can be justified if the right grievances are cited. In the current climate there is a real danger young people who witness the impotence of institutions that are supposed to be protecting innocent life will turn to other organisations in an effort to make their voices heard and the violence stop."

I support these concerns and hope they will act as a reminder for our political leaders to redouble their efforts so that our communities can have greater confidence in our political system.