UK lawyer make questionable remarks about Gaza

The charity UK Lawyers for Israel claim the Gaza conflict might ‘help solve obesity‘

May 2025

UPDATE: 20 May. At the Coop agm, 73% of members did vote to ban Israeli products on its shelves. The Board will now consider this decision.

Few may have heard of this charity which has a prestigious list of members and patrons. It is in the news recently (10 May) because its chief executive made some highly questionable and some might argue ill-judged remarks about the effect on the conflict in Gaza on its citizens. He was referring to a letter published on July 20th 2024 in the Lancet in which the estimate of those killed in the conflict might reach 186,000. The death toll at the time was around 37,000.

The Coop was to debate a motion from its members [No 13] to stop trading with Israel in view of the death toll in Gaza. The motion quotes the Lancet estimate. The UKLFI chief executive Jonathan Turner objected to the Coop motion saying:

“We first pointed out that the letter published in the Lancet on 20 July 2024, to which the motion evidently referred, did not claim that 186,000 Gazans had died in the current war. It did, however, claim – without foundation – that 186,000 Gaza would be likely to die eventually as a result of the war.

“So we pointed out, secondly, that this claim was based on entirely unfounded speculation, which also ignored factors that might result in lengthening the lives of Gazans, given the public health situation existing in Gaza prior to the war, including the extent of obesity. These factors include the possible reduction in the availability of confectionery and cigarettes”.

“In the context in which they were made, our statements were accurate and objective.” (our italics).

The full text can be read here. This might be seen in hindsight as a somewhat warped view of the conflict and on reflection, an apology issued to withdraw them. However, the Guardian article is referenced on their website without any sign of such an apology or retraction [accessed 11 May at 07:00].

The charity’s objectives are – [The] UKLFI Charitable Trust was set up by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI Ltd), which is is an association of lawyers who support Israel and seek to ensure that the rights of Israel and Israelis are respected.

The charity has a range of reports which seek to counter the narratives which appears in the media. These reports have the appearance of research reports with copious references and footnotes. However, on closer inspection the references do not always support the claims made of them. For example, the bombing of hospitals is usually because the IDF claim they are hiding Hamas operations of various kinds. This is the justification for their destruction. Very little evidence is produced by the IDF. In the charity’s report on this there is still no evidence. Indeed one reference is of an article in Haaretz from 2009, some years before the current conflict which says ‘Intelligence officers suspect’ [the Hamas operations]. Other references do not always support the claims made. The report denying a famine in Gaza was produced in 2024 before the current blockade. Among the conclusions to one report is the plea for ‘more transparency’. This is difficult since foreign journalists are not allowed into the area and the high death toll of those who are – 178 journalist and media workers have been killed in the current hostilities.

UKLFI has a list of patrons of some note. They include Lord Dyson; Lady Cosgrove; Baroness Deech; Stephen Hocken KC; Lord Pannick; Lord Grabiner KC and Lord Howard (formerly the MP Michael Howard). Many are well connected in the British establishment.

One has to question the wisdom of an organisation replete with KCs, other notables and members of the House of Lords, making a claim of this kind. Together with the reports on its site, the purpose seems to be to deny, deny and deny despite the mounting evidence of death and destruction wrought by the IDF. They have threatened the government with legal action over its decision to withhold a limited number of arms licences [not ‘all arms licences’ as the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy twice falsely claimed in a BBC interview last week].

Over 52,000 have now died in Gaza.

Sources: Campaign to Protect Journalists, UKLFI; Guardian; Wikipedia

American readers: a KC is a King’s Counsel which is a barrister of at least 10 years standing who is appointed by the monarch as someone ‘learned in the law’.

May 11, 2025 0

Vigil #73 and the ‘Pan Plan’

Our ‘duty to starve Gazans’ says Likud member

April 2025

The seventy third vigil took place yesterday 26 April with at one point 40 in attendance. It is surprising that this has kept going with good support. A feature this time was a lot of photographs taken by passers by. The situation in Gaza goes from bad to worse with all aid cut off and starvation likely. Scenes of people clamouring for food is shocking especially as many are children. Unwra and World Food Programme say their stocks of food are exhausted. The Israeli government says adequate food and medical supplies are being allowed in but Hamas are stealing them. As journalists are not allowed in it is difficult to verify but this seems very unlikely.

There was a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Thursday last week on Holocaust Memorial Day to remember the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis. But it took on a different meaning for some Israelis who are concerned about the killing of thousands of people in Gaza which has now passed 51,000 with more dying in daily strikes. Many women staged a demonstration holding empty cooking pots to symbolise the starvation of people in Gaza.

For some Israeli politicians this is deliberate policy. As Haaretz has reported:

Israeli lawmaker Moshe Saada of PM Netanyahu’s Likud party said in an interview on Channel 14 that it’s Israel’s “duty” to starve Gazans. Criticizing the IDF chief, who reportedly said he does not intend to follow such a policy, Saada said, “I do intend to starve the Gazans – that’s our duty. Our duty is to expel the Gazans.” (Image: Israel National News)

Vigil 74 – change of approach

Next Saturday’s vigil – number 74 – will be in a different form. Attendees are asked to bring an empty cooking pot of some kind (steel, aluminium), to echo the protest Israeli women took in Tel Aviv last week.

Vigil No. 73

Sources: Haaretz, Channel 14, Guardian

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April 27, 2025 0

The future for Hamas

BBC World Service discusses the role of Hamas in Gaza

April 2025

In all the reporting of the war in Gaza and the mounting death toll, we seldom get to hear much about Hamas, the organisation largely in control. Their name is frequently mentioned but beyond that, we hear very little. On the BBC’s World Service (24 April) there was a discussion about this group and its future.

Protests against them are mounting with people reportedly shouting things like ‘Hamas is garbage’ and ‘All Hamas out’. Speaking out against the group is dangerous the programme notes as such people are beaten, tortured or killed for daring to protest. Particular instances were quoted of people murdered or violently attacked and there were interviews with some in hiding or in other parts of the world.

There has been an instance where a local community in the north of Gaza who’s local residents prevented Hamas from firing rockets. Despite firing on the crowd, the gunmen were successfully driven out.

An organisation called the Centre for Peace Communications has representatives in the area who over a period of 4 years have been interviewing people to establish their views. They report that opposition to Hamas has swelled and many are blaming them for the tragedy and destruction following October 7th. There is a preference for the PLO and a desire for Hamas to cease being a ‘governing actor’. It was interesting to note that young people felt this way. Joseph Braude of CPC made clear that people are anti both Hamas and Israel. This does not absolve Israel from responding in the ways it has and the disproportionate destruction it has wrought on the territory and its people.

Overall, Hamas is now considered to be ‘very weak’. Having suffered terribly over the past 18 months one can sympathise with people living in the increasingly desperate circumstances and their anger at the people who have brought this upon them.

April 24, 2025 3

Gaza: situation deteriorates further

Situation in Gaza goes from bad to worse. No end in sight. 51,000 dead

April 2025

This Easter weekend, Christians celebrate the resurrection and it is a national holiday. People take the opportunity to relax over the weekend. Not far from where the events being celebrated, the situation in Gaza goes from bad to worse. Around 51,000 are now dead the great majority of whom are women and children. The ceasefire has ended and since then, 1,650 have been killed in bombing by the IDF. Food, fuel and humanitarian aid has been cut off and water supplies are precarious.

In addition to the destruction of vast swathes of the territory, Israel has now annexed a further 10% by creating 1 km wide ‘buffer zones’ around it. Reuters reports that around 20% of the land has been seized by Israeli forces. Within these zones, properties have been demolished. No one is allowed into these zones without risk of death. Armoured bulldozers have systematically levelled one home after another. Combat engineers have laid explosives and triggered controlled demolitions inside once bustling factories. IDF forces have torn up and denied Palestinians any access to the fertile farmland that once sustained lives and livelihoods. The map shows the huge extent of these zones:

‘witnessing forced destruction and displacement‘

Within Gaza itself, the situation goes from bad to worse. A spokesperson for Médecins sans Frontières said we are “witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population of Gaza.” There appears to be no likelihood of peace talks taking place.

Undoubtedly, Netanyahu feels emboldened in his actions following the statement by President Trump that Palestinians should be removed from Gaza and the area developed as a ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ effectively amounting to ethnic cleansing. He was the first foreign leader to visit the White House following Trump’s election for the second time.

A positive sign is the reporting of events in Gaza in a more robust fashion by UK media. Efforts at balance has meant unsupported claims by Israel sources were treated as fact. Destruction of hospitals and other facilities were because they were ‘Hamas control centres’ with seldom any evidence that they were (indeed, has there been any evidence that they were?). An internet search reveals almost no substantive evidence to support the claims. Israel has refused access to foreign journalists meaning claims could not be verified on either side. Even words lost their meaning. Hamas seized 250 ‘hostages’ on October 7th which is true. In exchanges, it is reported that ‘hostages’ were exchanged for ‘prisoners’ from Israeli gaols. Since many of the ‘prisoners’ had never been charged let alone tried, had been held without access to lawyers and in locations unknown to the Red Crescent or their families, how is that different from being a hostage?

The UK government has at last begun to toughen its language and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has recently said Israel’s decision to block aid is ‘unacceptable, hugely alarming and very worrying’. It also suggests the county is breaking international law, the first time it has acknowledged this.

Vigil

On Easter Saturday, the 72nd vigil was held in Salisbury with over 30 attending. Two American visitors to the City from California spent time with us.

Sources: BBC, Haaretz, Yahoo News, Reuters, CNN, MSF, NPR (National Public Radio, Washington), Guardian.

April 20, 2025 0

British Jews speak out about Israel

Board of Deputies of British Jews write open letter criticising Israel’s actions

April 2025

UPDATE: 24 April

The Deputies who wrote the letter to the Financial Times face disciplinary action which seems to indicate there are many tensions in the British Jewish community over the war in Gaza in which over 51,000 have now died. The vice-chair has been suspended. All those who wrote are subject to the complaints procedure according to a statement by the Board. The Board has received ‘multiple complaints’ it said from the public and Deputies.

This is a brave move by the Deputies. Around one in eight have written the letter published in the Financial Times on 15th. One of their number was interviewed on various channels on 16 April and said they could no longer ‘turn a blind eye or stay silent’ in view of the violence. This is the most extremist of Israeli governments they claim which is openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, strangling the Palestinian economy and building more new settlements than ever. ‘Israel’s soul is being ripped out’ and as members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, they fear for the future of the Israel they love and have such close ties to. Until now, they have been supportive of the Israeli government.

Not all Board members agreed and a senior member of the Board is quoted in an article in the Jewish Chronicle:

“[…] The publication of the campaign has been met with a divided reaction in the British community. A senior member of the Board of Deputies described the move as “an incredibly badly advised decision,” adding: “[It is] highly divisive and inappropriate in undermining [Board president] Phil Rosenberg so publicly in a national forum. As British Jews, we should not be commenting on what is effectively an Israeli political matter.”

People who criticise Israel face accusations of anti-Semitism and more recently, being ‘supporters of Hamas’. This has been the standard, knee-jerk almost, response to such criticisms. The Board’s spokesman, Baron Frankal, in the Channel 4 interview said he has received a lot of supportive comments. It will be difficult for the Israeli’s to level these accusations against the Board of Deputies.

Over 50,000 have now been killed in the conflict, the majority women and children, and all aid has been cut off for weeks. There are accusations of genocide being perpetrated.

We in Salisbury continue to hold vigils on Saturday in the market square and all are welcome to join.

Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine’s site.

April 16, 2025 1

Vigil 71

71st vigil in Salisbury

April 2025

Fewer numbers this week partly because the events in Washington dominating the news and a number of our regulars away or ill. This week we had three sets of people variously upset with our presence. It would be difficult to summarise their arguments some of which were around the boat people, which is not an issue with Gaza at present, and another claiming we were ‘wasting our time’. Strange to relate how a peaceful protest seems to generate animosity. The government has introduced legislation to limit noisy demonstrations in certain circumstances yet here was a peaceful protest – peaceful as in silent – which upset several people.

The situation is Gaza goes from bad to worse. Over 50,000 are now dead. The Israelis have widened the buffer zone around the strip and turned it into a killing zone. The ceasefire has ended. Netanyahu was welcomed in Washington. All aid has been cut off. A UN study (11 April) has shown that the last 36 Israeli air strikes killed 1,500 all of whom were women and children.

The apparent murder of Red Crescent medical staff has continued to make waves as the false story put out by the IDF has unwound with video and other evidence emerging. A shocking feature was the attempt at cover up and hastily digging a grave and burying the 15 people.

There seems no end in sight. The UK government continues to give support to Israel openly and covertly. The RAF is flying almost daily over the region ostensibly to try and track hostages. About 250 flights have happened in the last 6 months. The question is, if they are carrying out this surveillance (officially called Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR) are they not witnessing war crimes? Clearly, to spot a hostage would require sophisticated kit and it is reasonable to assume it would be capable of witnessing other events. Is this being logged and reported? As the Canadian researcher who is tracking these flights has said:

“They’re [RAF] in a warzone apparently rife with atrocities, and I think it’s very reasonable to ask if they’ve been witness to any war crimes, if they’ve incidentally collected intelligence that could reasonably believed to involve a war crime, and if so, what is their process to deal with that? If they don’t yet want to talk about what they’ve been doing for the past six months for truly operational security reasons, they already told us they would be operating there 6 months ago, they should be able to assure us their process is sound vis-a-vis unintentional intelligence collection involving/witnessing atrocities.”

These are serious questions for the UK government to answer.

Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine

April 12, 2025 1

70th Vigil

Gaza: ‘These atrocities were committed in our name’ Haaretz

April 2025

It seems almost unbelievable that a group of people come together every Saturday to stand in a vigil for half an hour on behalf of peace in the Middle East. The horror of October 7th 2023 brought us together but this has been superseded by Israel’s response involving around 50,000 deaths – including many women and children – and the massive destruction of large parts of Gaza. However, things may have changed this week.

There was initially, a large measure of sympathy for Israel and the death of around 1,200 of its people and the taking of 251 hostages. Retaliation was expected but the scale of it has exceeded anything imaginable and is now regarded as a war crime.

Deliberate destruction?

The bombing seemed indiscriminate which is probably a mistaken description. There seems to have been a deliberate attempt to destroy community facilities of one sort or another: schools, hospitals, clinics, water plants and places of worship were all targeted. The reason given in each case was that they were places where Hamas were operating and were often said to be ‘control centres’. Since independent journalists are not allowed in, Israeli claims could not be verified. All aid and electricity has been cut off.

Western media has solemnly reported after a bombing of a hospital say, that Israel had targeted the building because Hamas was using it as a human shield or that it was a control centre. Little or no evidence was ever produced. Thus media have been complicit in their quest for ‘balance’ by reporting the reason for the death of women and children was because of Hamas were somehow involved or were hidden in the hospital.

This week has seen the discovery of a grave in which the decaying bodies of 15 Palestinian medical staff from Red Crescent, and one UN member, were discovered. They were all shot one by one, one man had his hands tied. It looked like an execution in other words. We initially had the usual story that the vehicles were approaching ‘suspiciously’ and without lights. Footage has now appeared to show the vehicles did have lights on and flashing lights. One man was led away blindfolded and his whereabouts is unknown. No weapons were found so claims that they were Hamas were untrue. This incident has shown the standard response by the IDF to killings is unreliable and untrustworthy. It is probable that without independent verification of claims made by IDF, which are reported as fact by western media, it has led to a degree of cavalier carelessness with the truth. Such is the accumulation of evidence about this incident, that Israel has said it will mount an investigation.

Haaretz reports (April 6th) that the 15 dead join around a thousand other medical and aid workers killed in the conflict. It says that the IDF is ignoring both its own and international rules of conflict in the area. The other worrying trend – the undisciplined behaviour of Israeli forces – has spilled over into the West Bank the paper reports where violence against Palestinians has increased markedly. In an editorial they say: “Even though this government would like the war to continue forever, it will end someday. And on that day, the IDF and Israeli society as a whole will be forced to look in the mirror and deal with the knowledge that these atrocities were committed in our name”.

A video of the 70th vigil is available here.

Link to the website of Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine (SCIP)

April 6, 2025 1

Vigil number 70

We hold our seventieth vigil today, Saturday 5th April

April 2025

POST AMENDED

The 70th vigil was held in Salisbury on Saturday 5th April in the market place. We none of us thought when we started over a year ago that we would still be holding these every Saturday come rain or shine.

This week’s news is especially awful with yet more Palestinian medical staff found dead and buried in a shallow grave in southern Gaza, at least one with his hands tied. They were in clearly marked Red Crescent medical vehicles entering what was supposed to be a safe zone. It made the lead news item in today’s World at One (BBC Radio 4 programme 2 April). The IDF responded in the usual way that the vehicles were coming towards a checkpoint and there were no lights on. The story seems to be falling apart however. The usual Hamas terrorist arguments were trotted out but it now appears there were no weapons. Fortunately there is a survivor to explain what happened. There is evidence that two of the men were murdered after being detained. The use of bulldozers to bury the evidence indicates that this is a war crime. [Text amended 2 April]. We may return to this topic if more information comes to hand.

The programme about the West Bank on ITV the other evening was unpleasant viewing. It showed a settler gradually invading Palestinian land. What was shocking was his contempt for them and spoke in terms of clearing them away. He stopped next to some newly planted olive trees on their land and said he wasn’t going to clear them away now because the camera was on but it was obvious he would be back later.

It does appear that some of our broadcasters are beginning to report on what is happening in the West Bank and Gaza more fully despite reporting restrictions imposed by Israel and to give it due prominence. It puts the pusillanimous response by the UK government in the spotlight and their continuing failure to stop arms shipments is shocking. The obsession with ‘growth’ should not mean growth at all costs if genocide is at the end of it.

West Bank violence is increasing, Haaretz has reported on a large number of attacks, with livestock killed or stolen and a boy in charge of a flock was recently murdered by settlers they believe. IDF soldiers are seen standing by while settlers throw stones and carry out their attacks.

Here is a video of No 69 courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

Link to Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine

April 2, 2025 2

Gaza: don’t say you don’t know

Vigil number 68

March 2025

The violence continues. Israel has ended the ceasefire and over a hundred have been killed in the recent bombing in Gaza. Encouraged by President Trump and his desire to see some kind of Riviera on the Mediterranean coast, the IDF has restarted its bombing campaign. There can be little pretence that peace and a two state solution is anywhere present in current thinking.

To criticise Israel is to court being called ‘antisemitic’ a kneejerk reaction which has been immensely powerful. Many publications are wary of inviting this slur. It is very encouraging therefore to read of criticisms coming from within Israel itself and in particular in the Haaretz newspaper. A recent article by its editor Aluf Benn, is testimony to this [registration may be needed].

The images on our screens are truly horrific. A landscape of demolished buildings; mountains of rubble; hoards of people moving from one ‘safe zone’ to the next; rows of corpses and parents clutching dead infants. The scale of the response, with Netanyahu promising even worse to come, is demonstrably a crime against humanity. All supported by the United States and now Donald Trump with vague notions of moving 2 million Palestinians out of the territory to some other country.

Britain continues to support Israel and the RAF are reported to be overflying Gaza a largely unreported fact. And of course we are still selling them arms. We are thus complicit in these terrible events.

The 68th Vigil was held yesterday in the Market Place in Salisbury with around 35 in attendance. We are grateful to Peter Gloyns for a moving video.

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SCIP

March 23, 2025 0

And the vigils continue

The 66th vigil held in Salisbury

March 2025

The plan was to hold the final vigil a few weeks ago with the hopeful news of a cease fire and talks being held in Qatar. The recent news is far from encouraging. The death toll stands at 48,000 with more being added to most days.

The situation now has worsened considerably. Aid convoys have been stopped and today, Israel has announced that it is cutting off all electric power. Quite apart from the effects on a state with 2 million people, the desalination plants cannot operate neither can the treatment plants. These moves target the whole population and are using water, aid and now electricity as a weapon of war.

The UK has asked the Israeli government to reverse the decision saying it risks breaking international

law. The Qatari Foreign Ministry says Israel’s actions are ‘a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and of humanitarian law’.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that IDF soldiers are accused of using Palestinians as human shields a story also reported on in the Times of Israel. New rules issues by the Central Command enables soldiers to fire on Palestinians in the West Bank whether they are armed or not.

We shall be continuing our vigil and the next one is on Saturday 15th March starting at 5pm.

Main photo: Peter Gloyns

Palestine Action centre of the news

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Palestine Action ban lifted: for now

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March 10, 2025 0

Category: Gaza

UK lawyer make questionable remarks about Gaza

The charity UK Lawyers for Israel claim the Gaza conflict might ‘help solve obesity‘