Jeremy Corbyn says political leaders have green-lighted the “total annihilation of Gaza” by not defining what Israel’s right to defend itself actually means.
Writing in The Tribune, the former Labour leader condemned the ‘heinous’ massacre carried out by Hamas, but expressed concern that Israel’s retaliation has not been sanctioned within the boundaries of international law.
Political leaders from across the spectrum in the UK have supported Israel’s right to defend itself since rocket attacks and deadly raids were orchestrated by Hamas, with 97 people also taken hostage.
Israel has said that 1,300 people were killed during the attacks and more than 3,000 people have been wounded.
But Corbyn has accused leaders of not offering “sufficient specificity” about what Israel’s right to defend itself means, “let alone how it should be exercised within the boundaries of international law”.
Israel has ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, including Gaza City, which is home to hundreds of thousands of people, saying an operation with “significant force” will be unleashed imminently.
The directive came on the heels of what the United Nations said was a warning they received from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza within 24 hours, something they say is impossible to do.
Corbyn says this could mean that we are witnessing “the beginning of the total annihilation of Gaza and its people”.
“I wonder, if Gaza is wiped off the face of the earth, whether our politicians will look back and reflect on the reality of their unwavering support”, he added.
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