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Recently, a United Nations panel determined that Israeli forces is committing genocide in Gaza. The finding is unsurprising, given that few states in history have been so explicit about their objectives.

Consider these instances: In May, a top Israeli official stated that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed”; a week later, Israel’s leader asserted that the state is “destroying more and more houses in Gaza,” leaving Palestinians with no place to go.

Official Position

In early September, David Lammy sent a letter to the leader of a parliamentary body, asserting that “the government has carefully considered the possibility of genocide” and does not believe that Israel is acting with genocidal motives. What explains two bodies reach such different endpoints?

UK authorities refrains from reaching a decision on genocide because if it was to, it would need to confront its complicity.

International Partnerships

In terms of international relations, the UK works in alignment with the US, Israel’s strongest ally. The UK continues to provide Israel with key parts for F-35 jets incinerating the strip and its residents.

Aircraft carrying out aerial attacks have been allowed to land in the United Kingdom. The UK government continues to share intelligence with Israel. Britain operates relentless surveillance flights over Gaza.

Instead of enacting comprehensive restrictions, UK officials facilitate trade with Israeli entities worth billions a year.

Contradictions

Whereas the nation’s leader – whose inflammatory statements about broad blame on Palestinians – is granted the privilege of a state trip, hundreds of demonstrators holding placards condemning atrocities face incarceration as though they are security threats.

Each step directed at Israel has been performative, aimed to reduce demands for action from the people. After all, a large majority the public believe it’s possible Israel has violated international law, a majority supports an weapons ban, just 20% consider Israel’s operations in Gaza is reasonable, and over half endorse Netanyahu’s arrest for possible atrocities.

Human Cost

Safety of those from Gaza are seen as of lower priority than upholding partnerships with Israel and, by proxy, the US. In human terms, this approach unfolds in the cruelest of ways.

Dalloul al-Neder, a constituent of former deputy prime minister, interacted with her on multiple times. She visited his takeaway shop in 2019 and appeared together, saying “Palestine must be free”. They toured on a trip to Westminster.

Soon after the genocide beginning in last year, his mother, brother, sister-in-law and two family members were died due to an bombing. Desperate to evacuate his family – who had been trapped in debris three times – he emailed the minister twice asking for support.

He claims he got no reply. Months later, he attended a political event where he got to his feet, holding pictures of his deceased parent, pleading for a ce ceasefire and saying passionately, “My relatives were killed in Gaza”.

The whole distressing incident was on camera: he was aggressively ejected from the event and into public view. Rayner remained passive, merely commenting “acknowledgement, you’ve made your point”. Subsequently distanced herself on online platforms.

Days later, she was interviewed by a broadcaster, where the incident was framed as an example of security concerns for leaders, associating it with the murder of elected officials. Since then, numerous of the man’s family members have been lost that the list fill three pages of a record.

Hypothetical Situations

Consider an Jewish resident had been forcibly removed from the fundraiser of a leader they knew well, after clutching photographs of their lost loved ones and appealing for the fighting to stop. Instead of being framed as an example of dangerous abuse suffered by politicians, the response would be featured in newspapers and dominate headlines.

Conclusion

Our government is shirking away from hard facts. Officials reject genocide, as recognizing it would mean accepting their involvement. The truth, ultimately, will emerge.