stop the war coalition

UK Government ‘making a mockery’ of international law

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/government-making-mockery-international-law

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street, London, to attend Prime Minister’s Questions at the Houses of Parliament, March 20, 2024

‘Morally bankrupt’ Sunak doubles down on Israel arms sales

THE GOVERNMENT is “making a mockery” of international law, campaigners charged after Rishi Sunak doubled down on continuing arms sales to Israel.

Mr Sunak was ridiculed today after he said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “needs to do more” to alleviate suffering in Gaza while dodging calls to suspend arms sales to Israel.

Speaking to LBC, the British Prime Minister admitted that the humanitarian situation in Palestine is “dire” but that there had been “no change” in continuing arms sales.

When asked if the government had received fresh advice on arming Israel, after air strikes murdered three British aid workers earlier this month, Mr Sunak said assessments had been “carried out periodically.”

Lindsey German from Stop the War Coalition said that the decision to continue the exports while providing “weak criticism of Israel” demonstrates nothing but “moral bankruptcy and cowardice.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/government-making-mockery-international-law

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Morning Star: The real extremists are those trying to silence solidarity with Palestine

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/editorial-real-extremists-are-those-trying-silence-solidarity-palestine

People take part in a pro-Palestine march in central London, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, February 17, 2024

BRITAIN’S rulers are coming for our democratic rights. And their way is being prepared with a barrage of propaganda and lies.

The “counter-extremism commissioner” Robin Simcox peddles an outrageous smear against the peace movement when he claims Palestine solidarity demonstrations make London a “no-go zone for Jews.”

Tell that to the large and growing Jewish bloc that has marched for a Gaza ceasefire at every national demo.

But, as Stop the War Coalition officer John Rees warns, the ruling-class’s cynical strategy of interpreting empathy with Palestinians as hostility to Jews has sown confusion and fear.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/editorial-real-extremists-are-those-trying-silence-solidarity-palestine

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Campaigners insist draconian limits on right to protest will be resisted

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/campaigners-insist-draconian-limits-right-protest-resisted

PLANS for even more draconian limits on people’s right to protest — including outside Parliament — will be resisted, campaigners insisted today.

Government “violence adviser” Baron Walney, who was Labour MP John Woodcock before his elevation, has recommended that “threatening” protests outside Parliament, MPs’ offices and council buildings be banned and dispersed by police.

The clampdown adds to existing new limits on protests including for being “too noisy” or causing inconvenience.

The Stop the War Coalition pledged to mobilise against any new laws or regulations banning protests outside Parliament, and humanitarian campaign group Liberty condemned the proposals as “knee-jerk and deeply concerning.”

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Peaceful protests have been condemned by reactionary politicians and the media as “hate marches” and calls for Palestinians to have freedom “from the river to the sea” have been dubbed “anti-semitic.”

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Sam Grant, advocacy director at human rights campaign group Liberty, said: “When people care deeply about an issue, it’s natural for them to make their voices heard at the place where decisions are made.

“For centuries, protesting outside Parliament has been how people have campaigned for positive change in society, from the right to vote to equal marriage.

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“We’ve already seen a tightening on how people protest outside Parliament through the Policing Act 2022, and these plans could extend that much further.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/campaigners-insist-draconian-limits-right-protest-resisted

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Britain’s threat to bomb pro-Palestine Houthis ‘poses serious threat to world peace

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/britains-threat-bomb-pro-palestine-houthis-pose-serious-threat-world-peace

BRITAIN’S threats to bomb the Yemeni Houthi movement for attacking Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea “pose a serious threat to world peace” and is “completely irresponsible,” anti-war campaigners warned today.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said that the government would not hesitate to take “direct action” on the Iranian-backed forces after the US military said four boats from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen fired at the Maersk Hangzhou and got within metres of the vessel.

Britain and the US were reportedly preparing a joint statement to issue a final warning to the Houthis.

Stop The War Coalition’s Lindsey German said that the action would be “another potential escalation” in the Middle East, warning that it is “the last thing we need.”

She told the Star: “We have got Israel bombing Gaza on a daily basis with terrible consequences and so far the war hasn’t spread further than Palestine, but the truth is the Israelis are threatening to launch attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

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“People might wonder what British and US ships are doing in the Middle East and they have to realise they are contributing to a very dangerous situation which may lead to a regional war.”

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‘Hell on Earth’ returns to Gaza as Israel extends bombing to the south

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A Palestinian girl wounded in Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is brought to a hospital in Khan Younis, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/hell-earth-returns-gaza-israel-extends-bombing-south

“HELL on Earth” returned to Gaza today in the words of a UN official, as Israel resumed its murderous bombing campaign with dozens of air strikes on the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Over 100 solidarity actions will take place for Palestine across Britain on Saturday as peace campaigners demand an end to the killing.

After almost a week’s truce which saw Hamas release 78 hostages seized in its October 7 raid on Israel, and Israel free 240 Palestinian prisoners of the thousands in its jails, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) unleashed another wave of bombing which had killed at least 109 people today when the Morning Star went to press, bringing the total death toll from its war above 15,000.

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The Stop the War Coalition’s Lindsey German told the Morning Star that Gaza faced the “hideous prospect [of] winter cold, disease and food shortages and now renewed bombardment by Israel.

“The West Bank is also seeing increasing violence with many young Palestinians being shot and arrested every day.”

A window on the horror was exposed by the Unite union, which has a twinning arrangement with Shu’fat refugee camp which borders East Jerusalem and houses more than 16,000 refugees.

Colin Lomas, secretary of the twinning group, said: “The Shu’fat checkpoint [into Jerusalem] is frequently closed, making the camp an open prison subject to frequent incursions by the Israeli army.

“The United Nations health centre in the camp, already desperately overstretched, has experienced extensive damage.

“The Shu’fat youth centre has been raided on several occasions, resulting in the arrest of many young people.

“Homes have also been raided, with people being summarily arrested and imprisoned, mostly without charge or trial.

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https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/hell-earth-returns-gaza-israel-extends-bombing-south

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