Waiting for Answers
ROD WEBB reacts to open letter written to local MP by Hastings & District Palestinian Solidarity Campaign
As the Gaza conflict approaches the New Year after nearly 14 months of Israel’s onslaught on the Palestinian enclave, the killing of innocent civilians continues. One recent attack, which resulted in the killing of a Save the Children aid worker, prompted Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign to write an open letter to their MP, Helena Dollimore, who used to work for the organisation.
This is what Hastings & District PSC wrote:
“We write to you on day 425 of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, where the remorseless murder and starvation of the civilian Palestinian population grinds on, to ask whether you condemn Israel’s murder of the Save the Children worker Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi last weekend?
“Ahmad, who was deaf, was returning home from the mosque to his wife and three-year-old daughter when he was killed by an Israeli missile in Khan Yunis, along with 16 others in two separate attacks on the same day.
“Ahmad was known for his selfless determination to help others and dedication to his young daughter. He is the second Save the Children worker to be killed by Israel since October 2023.
“You have shared with constituents that you used to work for the international aid charity Save the Children, which started in the UK – now Israel has killed two of your former colleagues.
“The charity’s Chief Executive Inger Ashing has expressed her grief and outrage at this latest killing, demanding an investigation, accountability and an end to Israel’s violence against civilians and humanitarian workers.
“Will you support that call?
“Last weekend Israel killed several more aid workers from the charity the World Central Kitchen which led to the vital service being stopped at a time of catastrophic, Israeli-engineered famine.
“Do you condemn the targeting of these aid workers too?
“In the last year, Israel has killed over 333 aid workers, according to the UN, the highest number ever recorded in a single crisis.
“It has also targeted journalists, medics, civil defence and UN workers and children in unprecedented numbers.
“Do you condemn these killings?
“The International Criminal Court has recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“Do you accept, as the court has determined, there is a case to answer that Israel is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, such as persecution, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, murder, and other inhumane acts?
“Moreover, that it is, according to its own former defence leader, committing the crime of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the north of Gaza and that, according to the International Court of Justice, Israel’s continued presence in Palestinian territories is unlawful and that it currently practices the crime of apartheid across the whole of occupied Palestine?
“Will you also commit to supporting the UN General Assembly ruling from September demanding that Israel end its occupation of all Palestinian territories within a year?
“As your constituents we would welcome a strong stance from our Parliamentary representative in defence of international humanitarian law and a public commitment for the rights of all peoples to be respected, regardless of who they are or where they live.
The letter went public on 4 December and has been signed by 87 individuals and seven organisations. It was sent to Helena Dollimore on 10 December with a covering email which included the following:
“The letter was written the day before Amnesty International publicly concluded that Israel is guilty of committing genocide in Gaza and on the same day that news reached us of yet another tent massacre in Al Mawasi, killing 21.
“The letter contains seven specific questions, but we would appreciate an answer to an eighth – have you read the report, and if so, do you accept Amnesty International’s conclusion that Israel is guilty of genocide?
“We are keen to hear your answers which we will share with all those constituents who signed the letter as well as members of Hastings & District PSC, Amnesty International Hastings, the East Sussex Islamic Association, Hastings Jews for Justice, Hastings & District Trade Union Council and Hastings District NEU.”
CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL
Katy Colley, chair of Hastings & District PSC said: “We were moved to write after the murder of the Save the Children worker Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi…we wanted to ask her whether she condemned the murder of her former colleagues.”
She went on to say: “It is beyond maddening that nobody ever asks our politicians to condemn Israeli atrocities which are being carried out every single day – hospitals destroyed, medics and journalists murdered, children slaughtered and maimed on an industrial scale… Is Ms Dollimore blind to these atrocities? Or does she condone them? Because right now, her silence, and that of her Parliamentary colleagues, is complicity. It is a deadly silence that is killing Palestinians by the thousands.”
Helana Dollimore has expressed her concerns about what is happening, saying “The death and destruction in Gaza and the wider region is intolerable.” But as Katy Colley says, it is the failure to condemn Israel which needs to be addressed. This is particularly important now that Amnesty International has concluded that Israel is committing genocide after a year-long forensic investigation.
A SURGE OF PROTEST
Asked about the continuation of protests in Hastings against the genocide, Katy provided a list of events taking place in the last week alone. These include: a pop-up protest at Genocide Dynamics on Friday 13 December; a fundraising stall at Goat Ledge for Al Mawasi on Sat 14 December; A Poster Parade to remind the public of the ongoing genocide, to break the Western news media blackout on Gaza on Saturday 14 December; and a children’s Hastings Madrasah link up with Al Mawasi kids on Sunday 8 December.
There have also been a number of other creative protests recently, and the ‘drive by’ protest in November went viral all over the world, sparking a host of copycat actions. This was reported in the Skwawkbox. “We’re really proud that, as a group, we are helping to inspire the solidarity movement to find new ways to keep the public informed when the legacy media is hiding the truth about Israel’s genocide,” says Katy.
MP’S RESPONSE
In response, Helena Dollimore said: “The death and destruction in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict following Hamas’ attack on 7 October last year is unbearable. Since taking office, the Labour Government has been calling for an immediate ceasefire and using every diplomatic lever at our disposal to work towards an end to the fighting, the release of all hostages by Hamas, for international law to be upheld, and for all restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza to be lifted.
“In my maiden speech in Parliament, I called for an end to the conflict, and emphasised the impact that conflict has on children in particular – an area I worked on before entering politics. It has been harrowing to meet recently with families of hostages still being held by Hamas, and last week I met with the UNRWA Commissioner General who described the humanitarian nightmare on the ground. I have met with residents of Hastings, Rye and the villages concerned about both the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and rising levels of antisemitism and islamophobia closer to home. We all want this war to end, and I am always happy to engage respectfully with constituents on these issues. However, I will not tolerate abuse or harassment towards my staff or myself.”
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply