Labour lobbies MPs on Israeli ‘war crimes’
A BRIEFING document sent by Jeremy Corbyn’s office to Labour MPs accused the IDF of “war crimes” in the violence on the Gaza border.
Despite evidence that Hamas ordered thousands of Gazans to try to breach the border fences with Israel, often using violent methods, Mr Corbyn’s briefing accuses Israel of “wilful killings” in the clashes which left scores of Palestinians dead and many more injured last month.
One Labour MP told the JC that the document, sent to all Labour
MPs ahead of a parliamentary debate, was“disgustingly one sided”.
Another said: “It could have been written by Jeremy’s ‘friends’ in Hamas.”
The terror group claimed at least 50 of the dead were its members.
The notes, seen by the JC, were designed to urge MPs in a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday to condemn the way Israel’s military dealt with the demonstrations.
The Labour document did not mention any Hamas involvement in the planning of the weekly marches, stating: “Since March 30, a Palestinian movement... has been marching on the border between Israel and Gaza to protest against Israel’s illegal blockage of the area and the humanitarian crisis it is helping to fuel.”
It added: “The protests were largely peaceful, although they regularly featured stone-throwing and the rolling of tyres at the border fence.”
The notes later suggest an acceptance that “while some protesters in Gaza may have engaged in some form of violence it does not justify the use of live ammunition”.
It also makes the allegation: “Israeli forces appear to be committing wilful killings, constituting war crimes.” Labour MP Grahame Morris, who secured Tuesday’s debate on Gaza, repeatedly used the phrase “war crime” in Parliament and repeated other sections of Mr Corbyn’s briefing notes as he called for a full investigation into the actions of the IDF.
He was challenged by Conservative MP Matthew Offord over his failure to acknowledge the involvement of Hamas in the violence Gaza protests.
Mr Morris later said he condemned “all violence”.
Damien Moore, Conservative MP for Southport, said: “It is the antisemitic hatred of Hamas which keeps Gaza in its current pitiful state.”
Briefing accused Israel of ‘wilful killings’