The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) strongly denounces the recent escalation of violence against Palestinian civilians, in which 112 people have been killed and 280 injured as Israeli occupying forces opened fire on an aid distribution point.
The indiscriminate shooting of desperately hungry civilians seeking aid from distribution trucks after months of systematic starvation by Israel is an egregious violation of human rights and international law. Nearly 1 in 20 of Gaza’s population Gaza are now casualties of the atrocities since the beginning of October.
Israel’s belligerent disregard for its international obligations as outlined in Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, has resulted in an alarming death toll, with the number of killed surpassing 30,000, and thousands more unaccounted for under the rubble of destroyed buildings, and more than 70,000 wounded.
The Unites States recent statement confirmed that over 25,000 are believed to be women and children.
MCB Secretary-General, Zara Mohammed said: “The situation in Gaza is grave and desperate. The recent Israeli massacre of those on the brink of famine is devastating. We are all witnessing these traumatic scenes of innocent civilians, especially children making pleas for help, with no where to go and nothing to eat.
With the holy month of Ramadan beginning soon, I urge our Prime Minister to uphold Britain’s moral obligation and use all his power to bring this war finally to an end.
We urgently call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to halt the bloodshed and allow humanitarian organisations unrestricted access to provide essential aid and medical services. We cannot risk losing any more lives.”
The MCB urges our government to take decisive action by cancelling all arms export licenses to Israel, sanctioning Israeli officials who have expressed genocidal sentiments, and exerting diplomatic pressure to secure an immediate ceasefire. The decision to withdraw funding from UNRWA must be reversed, and efforts should be made to end the siege of Gaza to facilitate unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
The Muslim Council of Britain stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and reaffirms its commitment to advocating for justice, peace, and the respect of human rights in the region.
[ENDS]
* Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, all parties are obligated to refrain from violence against civilians and ensure the provision of essential supplies, including food, medical care, and shelter.