Archiv: The honorable British Prime Minister


15.11.2024 - 14:05 [ Palestine Chronicle ]

‘Unacceptable’ – British PM, Foreign Secretary Claim Israel Not Committing Genocide

Lammy recently alleged that the term genocide referred to “when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the Second World War in the Holocaust” and that using it to describe Gaza “now undermines (its) seriousness”.

(…)

“Will the Prime Minister share (Lammy’s) definition of genocide with this House?” the lawmaker asked Starmer.

The prime minister answered by saying that “it would be wise to start a question like that by reference to what happened in October of last year”.

“I’m well aware of the definition of genocide, and that is why I’ve never described this as and referred to it as genocide,” he added.

15.11.2024 - 13:32 [ Middle East Eye ]

UK urged to share Gaza spy planes footage with ICC war crimes probe

(October 30, 2024)

The defence ministry told Middle East Eye: “As a matter of principle, we only provide intelligence to our allies where we are satisfied that it will be used in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, and in this instance, only information relating to hostage rescue is passed to the Israeli authorities.”
(…)
Brendan O’Hara, the Scottish National Party’s spokesperson for the Middle East, told MEE it was “inconceivable”, given the scale of the destruction and death in Gaza, that the flights “do not contain footage which would be of significant interest to the investigators from the International Criminal Court”.
(…)
Labour MP Rachael Maskell told MEE: “It is crucial that any intelligence of breaches of international law are shared with the courts so they can assess the evidence and secure justice.”

“I trust that the UK government is working with the international courts to aid them in their work.”

15.11.2024 - 13:10 [ DeclassifiedUK.org/ ]

Revealed: UK military has flown 200 spy missions over Gaza in support of Israel

(May 8, 2024)

British spy planes have recorded up to 1,000 hours of footage over Gaza, including from the day Israel assassinated three UK aid workers.

19.10.2024 - 07:06 [ Labour Muslim Network ]

Muslim Labour Councillors Letter to the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer MP,

Dear Prime Minister,

We, the undersigned, are writing to you as Muslim Labour Councillors representing communities all across Britain to call for an immediate and complete suspension of arms sales to Israel.

The tragic human toll we have seen over the past year has been unimaginable.

19.10.2024 - 07:02 [ Middle East Eye ]

UK: More than 100 Muslim Labour councillors demand complete arms embargo on Israel

The letter by the Muslim councillors adds to pressure mounting on the British government from within the Labour Party to take stronger action against Israel.

Last week, 51 British MPs from seven political parties backed a parliamentary motion calling for the Labour government to take measures against Israel.

14.10.2024 - 17:44 [ Japan Times ]

Israeli envoy criticizes Japanese atomic survivor‘s Gaza comparison

Nagasaki decided not to invite Cohen to mark this year‘s 79th anniversary of the bombing, citing security reasons to avoid possible protests.

That decision prompted the ambassadors of the United States, Britain and the European Union, among others, to skip the ceremony and send lower-level officials instead.

11.10.2024 - 04:42 [ MAP.org.uk ]

Palestinians in Gaza are facing an imminent existential threat, warn 15 organisations

The UK is failing to stand up for international law, as Israeli forces are forcibly transferring civilians from northern Gaza to the south and relentlessly bombarding the area, making it uninhabitable and stripping away the essential conditions that sustain life. The Government must demand that Israel end its heinous attacks, and take action to oppose any annexation or shrinking of Gaza. Its current silence is tantamount to complicity.

(…)

Signatories:

– Action For Humanity
– Amos Trust
– Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
– Welfare Association
– Caabu
– Sabeel-Kairos UK
– Amnesty International UK
– Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
– Islamic Relief UK
– Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR)
– Trócaire
– War on Want
– Action Aid UK
– Global Justice Now
– Oxfam GB

04.10.2024 - 18:52 [ The Free Press Journal / Youtube ]

LIVE: US, UK & Israel Conduct 14 Airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeidah Airport in Yemen | Houthi

Started streaming 78 minutes ago #israel #houthi #middleeast
LIVE: US, UK & Israel Conduct 14 Airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeidah Airport in Yemen | Houthi Middle East | Free Press Journal | International News

04.10.2024 - 18:33 [ Corriere Della Sera ]

Attacco aereo in Yemen: colpito un aeroporto e la capitale

Le forze armate di Stati Uniti e Regno Unito avrebbero attaccato le aree delle città di Sana‘a, Hodeidah e Dhamar, controllate dal movimento filo-iraniano Houthi in Yemen. Lo ha riferito l’emittente yemenita di proprietà degli Houthi «Al Masirah», con sede a Beirut, spiegando che gli attacchi aerei statunitensi e britannici hanno preso di mira l‘aeroporto di Hodeidah, una zona di Sana‘a e il sud della città di Dhamar.

04.10.2024 - 18:01 [ Middle East Eye ]

US and UK strike Houthis in Yemen: Report

The US and UK have launched strikes across Yemen, including in the capital city of Sanaa, Dhamar city and Hodeidah airport, according to Houthi-controlled, Al Masirah TV.

27.09.2024 - 18:02 [ UN Web TV ]

UNGA79 – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer‘s address to the UN General Assembly

UNGA79 – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer addresses world leaders at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

27.09.2024 - 17:52 [ United Nations ]

‘This is the moment for peace, progress, equality’: UK Prime Minister

While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights inspires him, from his student days to being a prime minister, because it speaks of equal rights and peace, he said that notion “could seem like a distant hope today” amid a landscape of war, poverty, climate change or pandemics.

“My message today is this: We are returning the UK to responsible global leadership because I think the international system can be better,” he said. “This is the moment to reassert fundamental principles…to recommit to the UN…to work together for peace, progress and equality.”

Outlining a path towards those goals, he first pointed to ongoing wars, expressing London’s support for Ukraine. Calling on Israel to “step back from the brink” to provide space for a diplomat settlement, he said an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza, where the suffering continues to grow. Diplomacy is the only way to break the cycle of violence, he said.

19.09.2024 - 19:11 [ Common Dreams ]

In Overwhelming Vote, UN General Assembly Demands Swift End to Israeli Occupation

„The vast majority of countries have made it clear: Israel‘s occupation of Palestine must end, and all countries have a definite duty not to aid or assist its continuation,“ said GJN‘s Tim Bierley. „To stay on the right side of international law, the U.K.‘s dealings with Israel must drastically change, including closing all loopholes in its partial arms ban and revoking any trade or investment relations that might assist the occupation.“

14.09.2024 - 23:10 [ Middle East Eye ]

Senior Saudi royal urges US to cut financial and military support to Israel

“There are many tools that are available to the United States, not simply harsh talk, which seems to have gotten us nowhere. But is America ready to do that?”

“I’m not too optimistic,” he said, answering his own question.

On Britain, Prince Turki said the country had “a special responsibility for what is happening in Palestine” due to its role in the “ill-begotten Balfour Declaration in 1917”.

14.09.2024 - 20:14 [ Zarah Sultana MP, Labour MP for Coventry South / X.com ]

Described as “the most lethal fighter jet in the world”, every Israeli F-35 is made in part here in the UK. I, alongside 36 MPs, have written to the government raising concerns about complicity in violations of international law by not suspending export licences for F-35 parts:

14.09.2024 - 18:35 [ docs.google.com ]

Should the British government let Ukraine use UK missiles for direct attacks on Russia?

Should the British government let Ukraine use UK missiles for direct attacks on Russia?

Yes
No
Don‘t know

14.09.2024 - 17:34 [ LabourList.org ]

Keir Starmer in Washington: Should the UK back Ukrainian strikes into Russia?

However, supporters of Ukraine argue the nation needs the ability to hit targets inside Russia to be able to stage an effective resistance – and point to Russia’s use of foreign-sourced munitions against cities in Ukraine.

14.09.2024 - 16:48 [ Reuters ]

Putin‘s options for Ukraine missiles response include nuclear test, experts say

As East-West tensions over Ukraine enter a new and dangerous phase, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden are holding talks in Washington on Friday on whether to allow Kyiv to use long-range U.S. ATACMS or British Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia.

10.09.2024 - 17:56 [ Jerusalem Post ]

ICC delays arrest warrants process against PM, Gallant

(June 27, 2024)

The International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Tribunal on Thursday postponed its decision-making process about whether it will allow ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.

The postponement came following a June 10 application by England to file a “friend of the court” brief against the ICC’s jurisdiction over the issue.

10.09.2024 - 14:25 [ Tass.com ]

FACTBOX: Drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions

MOSCOW, September 10. /TASS/. At least 14 drones were shot down by air defense forces during an attempt to attack Moscow and the Moscow Region. A 46-year-old woman died in Ramenskoye, while earlier information about the death of a 9-year-old child was not confirmed. Several people were injured.

The effects of the fall of UAV fragments in the area of Zhukovsky airport are being eliminated.

10.09.2024 - 14:15 [ Reuters ]

Ukraine strikes Moscow in biggest drone attack to date

Moscow and Kyiv have both sought to buy and develop new drones, deploy them in innovative ways, and seek new ways to destroy them – from using shotguns to advanced electronic jamming systems.
Both sides have turned cheap commercial drones into deadly weapons while ramping up their own production and assembly to attack targets including tanks and energy infrastructure such as refineries and airfields.

09.09.2024 - 22:08 [ Nachdenkseiten ]

US-Diplomatin Nuland räumt offen ein: Friedensverhandlungen zwischen Kiew und Moskau auf „Empfehlung“ von Washington abgebrochen

„Relativ spät im Spiel begannen die Ukrainer, um Rat zu fragen, wohin diese Sache führen würde, und es wurde uns, den Briten und anderen klar, dass Putins Hauptbedingung in einem Anhang zu diesem Dokument, an dem sie arbeiteten, versteckt war. Sie enthielt Beschränkungen für die genauen Arten von Waffensystemen, über die die Ukraine nach der Vereinbarung verfügen durfte, so dass die Ukraine als militärische Macht im Grunde kastriert wäre. Für Russland gab es keine ähnlichen Beschränkungen. Russland wurde nicht verpflichtet, sich zurückzuziehen. Russland wurde nicht verpflichtet, eine Pufferzone an der ukrainischen Grenze einzurichten, und es wurde nicht verlangt, dass seinem Militär, welches der Ukraine gegenüberstand, dieselben Beschränkungen auferlegt werden. Und so begannen die Menschen innerhalb und außerhalb der Ukraine zu fragen, ob dies ein guter Deal sei, und das war der Punkt, an dem er auseinanderfiel.“

09.09.2024 - 22:00 [ RT.com ]

Nuland confirms West told Zelensky to abandon peace deal

“Relatively late in the game the Ukrainians began asking for advice on where this thing was going and it became clear to us, clear to the Brits, clear to others that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin‘s main condition was buried in an annex to this document that they were working on,” she said of the deal being discussed by the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Türkiye’s largest city.

The proposed agreement included limits on the kinds of weapons that Kiev could possess, as a result of which Ukraine “would basically be neutered as a military force,” while there were no similar constraints on Russia, the former diplomat explained.

“People inside Ukraine and people outside Ukraine started asking questions about whether this was a good deal and it was at that point that it fell apart,” Nuland said.

03.09.2024 - 17:16 [ Times of Israel ]

Netanyahu says ‘shameful’ suspension of UK arms licenses will embolden Hamas

Announcing the move on Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the decision to suspend 30 of 350 licenses did not amount to a blanket ban or an arms embargo, but only involved items with concerns over their use during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

02.09.2024 - 18:24 [ Middle East Eye ]

UK suspends 30 arms exports to Israel over Gaza war crimes concerns

The suspension, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in parliament on Monday, is understood to cover components for military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones.

“Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government’s legal duty to review export licences,“ Lammy told MPs.

31.08.2024 - 14:00 [ Middle East Eye ]

Why Israel‘s genocide in Gaza is a western war on the Palestinian people

Western countries and Israel share the same values of settler-colonialism, racism, white supremacy and genocide – all of which are imperial tools to protect their interests

31.08.2024 - 00:05 [ Middle East Eye ]

West Bank attacks: To western leaders, there are no red lines for Israel‘s slaughter

War in the West Bank was planned before Hamas‘s attack on 7 October last year, a senior Fatah member with close links to security circles told me.

It was postponed by the Gaza war, but also refined and honed by it.

When Israel saw just how much Palestinian blood the US and Europe were prepared to tolerate in Gaza – how much destruction, how many millions would be continually displaced, and for how long – Israel felt emboldened to visit the same hell on its real target: the occupied West Bank.

28.08.2024 - 12:40 [ Anadolu ]

UK’s Online Safety Bill to be fully enforced next year

(20.08.2024)

The UK‘s new Online Safety Bill, which is set to take effect next year and aims to curb speculative news and online hate speech, has gained renewed attention after far-right groups used social media to incite violence.

28.08.2024 - 12:17 [ Yahoo Singapore News ]

Starmer in Germany for first bilateral trip as UK PM

Starmer‘s Labour party had said it would seek a security and defence treaty with Germany if it won the July 4 general election, which it did by a landslide — propelling him to the premiership.

19.04.2024 - 04:16 [ Guardian News / Youtube ]

United States vetoes Palestinian request for full UN membership as UK abstains from vote

The US vetoed a Palestinian request to the United Nations security council for full UN membership, blocking the world body’s recognition of a Palestinian state. US officials had been hoping Washington could avoid use of its veto if other states objected to a draft resolution before the council recommending the ‚State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations‘

17.04.2024 - 20:26 [ New York Times ]

Ukraine Sees ‘Hypocrisy’ in Western Allies’ Defense of Israel

The militaries of the United States, Britain, France and others stepped in to help Israel defend against the fusillade of more than 300 Iranian drones and missiles, nearly all of which were intercepted. A similar number of aerial weapons are fired at Ukraine on a weekly basis, its officials say, with many of the drones in those attacks designed by Iran and now produced by Russia.

17.04.2024 - 19:42 [ SRF.ch ]

Hilfe für die Ukraine – Selenski fordert, was Israel bekam

Israel parierte den iranischen Grossangriff aus der Luft – und zwar mithilfe der USA, Grossbritanniens, Frankreichs, Jordaniens und möglicherweise Saudi-Arabiens. Genau solche Hilfe fordert nun der ukrainische Präsident Wolodimir Selenski für sein Land gegen die russischen Luftangriffe. Das ist legitim. Doch passieren wird es nicht.

11.04.2024 - 15:00 [ Axios ]

Scoop: Senior U.S. general to visit Israel to coordinate on Iran attack threat

Gen. Erik Kurilla, commander of the U.S. Central Command, is expected to meet Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and senior Israel Defense Forces officials.

Israeli officials say they are preparing for a possible unprecedented direct attack from Iranian soil using ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles against Israeli targets.

In such a scenario, Israel will retaliate with a direct attack against Iran, the officials said.

11.04.2024 - 14:44 [ ChannelNewsAsia.com ]

Biden promises Israel ‚ironclad‘ support against Iran reprisals

The US has been tight-lipped in its public reaction to the Apr 1 strike, saying it has not determined whether Israel struck a diplomatic facility, which would breach international agreements on the inviolability of embassies and consulates.

11.04.2024 - 14:33 [ Bloomberg ]

US Sees Imminent Missile Strike on Israel by Iran, Proxies

The US and its allies believe major missile or drone strikes by Iran or its proxies against military and government targets in Israel are imminent, in what would mark a significant widening of the six-month-old conflict, according to people familiar with the intelligence.

10.04.2024 - 09:12 [ David Hearst / Middle East Eye ]

For the defenders of Israel‘s war on Gaza, the game is up

Staunch allies calling themselves friends of Israel are beginning to realise they are also friends of the murderers of western aid workers, friends of genocide and friends of fascism

30.03.2024 - 19:08 [ Telesur ]

South Africa to Sue US and UK as Complicit in Gaza Genocide

(January 15, 2024)

The United States must now be held accountable for the crimes it committed,‘ says Van Rensburg, who is leading the 47-lawyers team.

“We intend to bring legal proceedings against the U.S. Government based on overwhelming evidence that the U.S. Government has, and is, aiding, abetting and supporting, encouraging or providing material assistance and means to Israel and the Israeli Defense Forces. This conduct by the U.S. Government has enabled and continues to enable Israel to engage in international crimes against the Palestinian people,” the South African lawyers said in a letter sent to US President Joe Biden on January 2.

14.03.2024 - 16:45 [ NewArab.com ]

UK will continue UNRWA funding suspension despite Gaza famine

The UK government will continue to suspend funding to Palestinian relief works agency UNRWA, the Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell has said, despite famine gripping Gaza and crippling food shortages.

The US, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Finland, Australia and the Netherlands will also continue their freeze to critical life saving aid to the UN aid agency for Palestinians until an interim report about Israel allegations that UNRWA aid workers were involved in Hamas‘s 7 October attacks is released, the minister said.

14.03.2024 - 16:25 [ Middle East Eye ]

Israeli bombing of British doctors in Gaza may have used UK and US arms, investigators find

A UN investigation found that US and UK-manufactured weapons or parts may have been used to bomb British doctors working for British and American organisations in Gaza in January, the organisations involved have highlighted.

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) also said this week that Israeli officials have offered six different explanations about why the residential compound housing their staff was hit.

The compound, which was not close to any other buildings, was struck around 6am on 18 January by an F-16 jet which „most likely'“ fired a 1,000-pound „smart bomb“, the UN investigation found.