The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) strongly condemns the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s blatant opposition to the Palestinian peoples’ right to self-determination, one that must be exercised in the aftermath of Israel’s unrelenting war on Gaza and wider Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Over the past 105 days, the apartheid state of Israel’s onslaught on Gaza has killed nearly 25,000 Palestinians, including over 12,000 children, and injured over 62,300. Whilst in the West Bank, ongoing Israeli raids have resulted in over 367 Palestinians killed, 4000 injured and 6000 Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces. Recently, distressing reports have emerged, detailing mass executions and Gaza on the brink of starvation.
Netanyahu’s alarming rhetoric, echoed by many senior Israeli officials, including the Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely, highlights the Israeli Government is not interested in a two state solution.
Israel now faces escalating international pressure as South Africa has taken Israel to International Court of Justice for genocide, this case was welcomed by Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Bolivia, The Maldives, Namibia, Pakistan, The Arab League, Columbia, Brazil, and the members of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). In addition Indonesia filed a new lawsuit against the Israeli occupation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Israel accountable for its policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Chile and Mexico have urged the International Criminal Court action on Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and Swiss prosecutors confirmed that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had been the subject of criminal complaints during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. These incidents highlight a growing global demand for accountability.
We urgently call upon our government to advocate for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, rebuff any rhetoric from Israeli officials that undermines the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and use its considerable diplomatic leverage to champion a just and lasting peace, not a seemingly expanding regional war.
[ENDS]