Gaza: Stopping trade talks with Israel won't stop bombs dropping

Image: DEC

On Tuesday the UK government announced that it is suspending trade talks with Israel because of its blockade of Gaza. The announcement came shortly after the UN warned that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die in the next 48 hours, if the aid blockade continues.

For more than eleven weeks Israel has cut off water and electricity and stopped all food, medical supplies and fuel to Gaza's entire population of 2.1 million people. Most medical facilities have been destroyed. Each day and night the population is being subjected to deadly bomb and drone attacks and regularly forced to evacuate from area to area.

Describing the blockade as "intolerable", Foreign David Lammy said it is "morally wrong, unjustifiable" and "needs to stop." He described Israel's plans to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza as "repellent" and "monstrous." He said: "Today, I'm announcing that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement."

The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) welcomed the steps but said they are "not nearly enough to begin to end Britain's complicity in Israel's genocide."

PSC said: "The government continues to export weapons and military technology used by Israel to carry out its genocide and enforce its blockade on Gaza, including parts for Israel's F-35 fighter jets used to drop 2000lb bombs. Just last week, the government argued in court that the ensuring the integrity of the F-35 supply chain was more important than stopping Israel's genocide.

But they said: "Today could be a turning point, where the government begins to undo the depths of its complicity in Israel's genocide, by treating Israel not as an ally, but as a rogue state carrying out atrocities."

They appeal for the UK government to introduce an immediate comprehensive military embargo; an end to all trade negotiations with Israel; and wide-ranging sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes, against all Israeli government ministers, including Benjamin Netanyahu.

Christian Aid echoed this statement, warning that UK's suspension of trade talks isn't enough to stop Israel continuing its military campaign in Gaza.

Jennifer Larbie, head of UK Advocacy and Campaigns at Christian Aid, said: "At last the Israeli government faces a consequence from the UK government for their brutality and atrocities in Gaza.

"We welcome this but urge the government to suspend all UK arms sales to Israel and ban all settlement trade. Suspending trade talks alone won't stop the bombs dropping on the Palestinian people."

Elizabeth Funnell, CAFOD country representative for the Middle East, commented: "CAFOD's demand remains unchanged since the start of this crisis: an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted aid at scale, and a halt to UK arms sales to Israel."

Despite overwhelming challenges, CAFOD, Christian Aid and Friends of the Holy Land are among the Christian charities struggling to help people on the ground through local partners. To support their work see the links below:

LINKS

CAFOD: https://cafod.org.uk/give?form=givetocafod/

Christian Aid DEC appeal: www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/dec-middle-east-humanitarian-appeal

Friends of the Holy Land: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/