Tag: Israel

UN Council report declares genocide in Gaza


Report finds that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and elsewhere

September 2026

A report by the UN Independent International Committee of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel (COI), has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in those areas according to the 1948 Convention. The UN itself has not made a declaration but it is being urged to do so. The COI investigation has taken 2 years. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has condemned the report saying “it categorically rejected the report and called for the COI to be abolished. Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel Meron, called the report a scandalous and fake “libellous rant” that had been authored by “Hamas proxies”. Israel has declined to cooperate with the COI, accusing it of having a political agenda“. A summary of the report is available here.

The COI finds that 4 of the five genocidal acts have been committed by Israel namely killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of the Palestinians in whole or in part and imposing measures intended to prevent births. It finds that Israel has failed to investigate genocidal acts and to prosecute perpetrators.

Israel has imposed a siege, blocked humanitarian aid and has systematically destroyed health care and educational systems. Today (17th September) as part of its latest ground offensive, it has attacked the last remaining functioning hospital in Gaza. Independent journalists are not allowed into the territory.

Treatment of women

Perhaps the most distressing aspect of the report is the atrocious treatment of women captured by the IDF. This has not so far as we are aware been reported before. It is worth quoting the passage on this aspect (warning: a distressing read):

Notably, the Israeli security forces also sexually harassed and publicly shamed Palestinian women. For example, some Palestinian women were forced to strip to their underwear and remove their veils in public and in front of the community. The Commission has found that Israeli security forces have deliberately humiliated and mocked Palestinian women based on their gender and ethnicity. The evidence analysed by the Commission showed a clear gender and racial bias by the perpetrators, who intentionally target Palestinian women and attempt to humiliate and degrade them publicly. Moreover, from the perspective of Palestinian culture, sexual harassment and public shaming of women are potentially extremely harmful, carrying serious implications for the women whose privacy is publicly exposed. Additionally, female Palestinian detainees were severely mistreated and humiliated during their detention. The Commission has reported that female detainees were subjected to repeated, prolonged and invasive strip searches, both before and after interrogations. One woman was strip searched in her cell every three hours during her four-day detention, the guards forcing her to remove all her clothes even though she was menstruating. Women were forced to remove all clothes, including the veil, in front of male and female soldiers. They were beaten and harassed while called “ugly” and subjected to sexual insults, such as “bitch” and “whore“. (para 70).

Sport and culture

The continuing death toll in Gaza, now put at 65,000, and the increasing level of violence by settlers in the West Bank is forcing countries to reassess their relations with Israel. We have previously reported the abandonment of the final stage of the Vuelta due to protesters. There are moves by Spain, Ireland and others to withdraw from Eurovision. There are signs of Israel becoming more isolated because of its activities.

Referring to this increasing isolation, Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech yesterday that Israel would become a kind of Sparta. This is a revealing comment since the Greek state did indeed win a famous victory in the Pelopennesian War but it was democratic Athens which eventually survived and became a beacon for global civilisation. Sparta pursued its militaristic and isolationist policy but was overcome by the Helots and disappeared from history.

The 94th vigil will take place on Saturday 20th at 5pm in Salisbury market by HSBC.

Sources: Haaretz, Guardian, Neos Cosmos,

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Sport and rights


Major cycle races affected by protesters. Last stage of Vuelta abandoned

September 2025

La Vuelta a Espana is the tour of Spain cycle race and a major event in the cycling season. It follows the Tour de France and the tour of Italy, the Giro d’Italia. These are keenly watched by millions of fans and the teams are sponsored by commercial enterprises and countries. The last stage of the Vuelta had to be abandoned last week because of street violence. Cycling is fairly unique since races take place on ordinary streets and members of the public can see the cyclists close to.

The problem is one of the teams is sponsored by Israel Premier Tech and its presence is causing major headaches. There are threats to next year’s Tour de France which starts in Barcelona (there is an increasing tendency for these tours to start outside the home country). Indeed, the Giro started in Israel in 2018.

There is hardly any need to explain the problems with the war in Gaza, set to intensify with the attacks on Gaza city, leading to the deaths of over 64,000 Palestinians. Although the sponsor is a commercial firm, the website makes clear the deep involvement of the Israeli government and Netanyahu himself. It is a national team.

The boss of IPT, Sylvan Adams, is hard line in his approach to Gaza and is quoted as saying ‘Israel should finish the job in Gaza’. He calls the protesters ‘terrorists’.

It is a major problem for race organisers since policing the roadside for three weeks is all but impossible. They are reluctant to ban or uninvite IPT because they are worried about being accused of being anti-Semitic. IPT is also extremely wealthy. Tour de France winner Chris Froome is on the team. The risk of disruption is high as we saw in Madrid. If the war in Gaza continues, protests are likely to grow and become more frequent.

It raises the question of sport and politics since countries like Israel are closely involved in teams as a means to promote themselves. Arab nations are spending billions engaged in the same thing. In the communist era, states like East Germany and Russia used sport to promote their ideology. The close involvement is a problem in times of war however. The involvement of IPT is only likely to intensify protests: there were two crashes in the Vuelta and two riders had to retire. The whole question of sport and politics is clearly an increasing issue especially as money is so important to success.

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Amnesty Critiques High Court’s Decision on Arms Exports


High Court rules against action by human rights groups

June 2025

The High Court has ruled that sales of components for the F35 aircraft can continue to be sold to Israel. The judgement has come as a big disappointment for campaigning organisations including Human Rights Watch, Oxfam, Al-Haq and Amnesty. The judges said that the decision was properly for the government to decide. They said:

‘[The] issue is whether it is open to the court to rule that the UK must withdraw from a specific multilateral defence collaboration which is reasonably regarded by the responsible ministers as vital to the defence of the UK and to international peace and security, because of the prospect that some UK-manufactured components will or may ultimately be supplied to Israel, and may be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law in the conflict in Gaza.’

Global Legal Action Network who brought the case with the support of the three British human rights

organisations which are parties to the case, argued that under the Arms Trade Treaty and the Genocide Convention, the UK, as a state party to both, is obligated to stop sending the parts and that, by failing to follow its obligations, is threatening the rule of law globally.

Amnesty statement

In response to the verdict, Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, said:

“We are disappointed by today’s ruling, but the court has been clear that while it does not have the authority to make a judgment on UK exports of F-35 arms parts, this does not absolve the executive and Parliament from their responsibilities to act.

The UK has a legal obligation to help prevent and punish genocide and yet it continues to authorise the export of weapons to Israel despite the clear risks that these weapons will be used to commit genocide.

This judgment does not change the facts on the ground, nor does it absolve the UK government of its responsibilities under international law. The risk that UK arms may be used to facilitate serious international crimes remains alarmingly high. If the courts will not intervene, then the moral and legal burden on the Government and Parliament to act – before more lives are lost and further irreparable harm is done – is even greater.

“The horrifying reality in Gaza is unfolding in full view of the world: entire families obliterated, civilians killed in so-called safe zones, hospitals reduced to rubble, and a population driven into starvation by a cruel blockade and forced displacement. These are not isolated tragedies; they are part of a systematic assault on a besieged population.

The UK must end all arms transfers to Israel if we are serious as a country about our commitments to international law and human rights.

Many of those who attend the weekly vigil in Salisbury will find this decision deeply disappointing.

Gaza documentary

The documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack is to be shown on Channel 4 on 2nd July at 10pm. The BBC declined to show it saying it did not meet its high editorial standards. Members of staff met Tim Davie the Director General of the BBC at a virtual meeting and many expressed their disquiet at the decision to pull the documentary. The BBC denies claims it is frightened to air such programmes.

Sources: Middle East Eye; Yahoo News; Reuters; Guardian.

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Video of Salisbury vigils


Video highlighting the 80+ vigils held in Salisbury and the exhibition

June 2025

We are delighted to attach a video* with clips from the 81 vigils so far held in Salisbury in aid of peace in Gaza. The bombing of Iran and the retaliation by them has distracted attention from the continuing misery which is taking place in Gaza. The death toll now stands at 56,000 including thousands of children. Many more have suffered terrible injuries with life long consequences.

The is an exhibition at Salisbury Methodist Church, St Edmunds St which is open from 9:30 clips of which

appear in the video.

The strangulation of Gaza continues with tightly restricted supplies of food and other goods allowed in. The war of words continues with an Israeli spokesman interviewed on Channel 4 saying there is no blockade. Foreign journalists are not allowed in so independent reporting of what is happening is difficult. The evidence seems to point to utter confusion at the aid distribution points with many being shot every day in a desperate attempt to get food.

Britain continues to supply weapons to Israel and to give them diplomatic cover. More attention is being paid to the role of the RAF, especially after the action by Palestine Action last week at Brize Norton. The RAF has overflown Gaza around 600 times now and the claims by the minister that they are to help find the remaining hostages is to be doubted in view of the government’s continued support for Israel and the supply of arms.

The local MP, Mr John Glen, has not visited any of the vigils and has not mentioned them in his weekly column in the local paper.

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*The Exhibition and video are the work of Peter Glyns.

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Salisbury vigil and exhibition reminder


Another vigil, number 81 and a reminder that the exhibition starts on Monday 23rd

June 2025

Still it goes on and today was number 81 in our series of vigils with around 35 in attendance. What was encouraging was an increasing number of people who are noticing it. It is hard to tell of course but over 100 seem to stop, pause or look at the banner and to at least be aware that we were there to urge peace in this troubled part of the world. The local MP, Mr John Glen has never appeared at one of the vigils nor referred to them in his column in the local paper.

The war with Iran is taking up most of the news with less attention being paid to Gaza. The death toll is now at 55,700 and the reports of people being killed seeking food at the limited number of food stations are distressing. Claim and counter claim are made but from the footage, it seems as though the crowds are of ordinary if desperate people. To be shot seems unjustifiable. As Israel does not allow journalists in to independently assess the situation it is difficult to come to a conclusion but it does look like gratuitous killings of unarmed individuals.

The BBC featured in the news this week for finally deciding not to show the documentary film Gaza: Doctors Under Attack allegedly for not meeting its high journalistic standards. This may come as a surprise to many listeners and viewers of the BBC output which has singularly failed to challenge the language and false narratives during this war. The journalist Peter Oborne has reported on the bias of the broadcaster and this clip from Middle East Eye is an example. They cannot be blamed for not being allowed into Gaza – along with other news outlets – but in comparison with Channel 4 for example, their coverage has been woeful. Essentially it looks as though they are frightened of the anti-Semitism gibe and of following propaganda put out by Hamas.

Israeli representatives are not challenged properly over highly dubious statements. The endless claims that destruction of property, hospitals and other buildings are because there are Hamas control centres underneath without ever providing evidence is shameful. Looking at the massive destruction does no one in the BBC newsroom ask themselves ‘hang on, there seem to be an awful lot of control centres in Gaza’. As the IDF control well over half the territory now, why has none of the interviewers ask ‘can you give us some evidence or footage of these control centres please?’

Over 100 BBC have complained about the coverage and some have left the corporation.

The exhibition of photos from the vigils takes place starting tomorrow, 23 June in the Methodist Church in Salisbury from 09:30 in the morning.

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Salisbury’s Continued Call for Peace in Gaza


Eightieth vigil in Salisbury for peace in Gaza

June 2025

Vigil this evening at 5pm

It seems incredible that we turn out each Saturday in Salisbury to express our concern about the continued violence in Gaza. This week, Israel attacked Iran which retaliated in kind but much less effectively. Supported by America and to a lesser extent other nations such as the UK, Israel is the local superpower. It claims to have control of the skies over Tehran.

The world’s attention has switched to this latest conflict but it is important that we don’t lose sight of the death toll which continues in Gaza where it now exceeds 55,400 with more dying every day.

Don’t forget the exhibition of photos from the vigils which starts on 23rd.

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Appeal case – arms to Israel


Update on the case from Amnesty and Human Rights Watch

May 2025

Amnesty has issued an update on this case which is currently before the Appeal Court. There is a video clip attached.

See also a post from Human Rights Watch;

“How could they have allowed that to happen? This is the question everyone asks, years later, when looking back at mass atrocity crimes in the past. Everything’s so clear when it’s described in history books – war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide…  

It’s not that these things aren’t clear at the time exactly. In fact, in recent decades, they have often been well-documented in excruciating detail more or less as they happen. Yet, somehow, when these things are unfolding in real time, some folks seem unable – maybe, more often, unwilling – to accept the evidence of their eyes and ears. Various considerations distract international leaders in particular: prejudices, alliances, politics…  

There can never be any justification for the worst kinds of crimes known to humanity, but that doesn’t keep leaders from trying to offer some. And with that, you move toward the future answer to the future question: The world at the time had leaders who refused to take a stand and defend humanity when it mattered most.  

Today, everyone can see Israel has been committing atrocities in Gaza during hostilities since October 7, 2023. We’ve seen systematic destruction of homes, apartment buildings, orchards and fields, schools, hospitals, and water and sanitation facilities. Israel has also openly used starvation as a weapon of war.  

These actions amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity including extermination, and acts of genocide. Now, the Israeli government’s latest plan has made its intentions even clearer. They want to demolish what remains of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and concentrate the Palestinian population (about 2 million people) into one tiny area. 

Israeli government ministers couldn’t make things any more obvious. They say Israel is “finally going to conquer the Gaza Strip.” They threaten that Gaza will be “completely destroyed” and say its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries.”  

Some Israeli officials say the Palestinian exodus will be “voluntary.” However, it’s hard to call it voluntary, when Israel has deliberately destroyed the area’s ability to sustain human life. 

If implemented, the plan would amount to an abhorrent escalation of extermination. In fact, Israel’s plan is so obviously extreme and has been made so extremely obvious, it should trigger international action under the Genocide Convention’s “duty to prevent.” 

The 1948 Genocide Convention is an international agreement that embodies the spirit of “never again.” It says a “duty to prevent” genocide arises as soon as a state learns, or should normally have learned, of a serious risk that genocide may be committed.  One hundred and fifty-three countries have signed up to the Convention. These include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. 

Yet, these are some of the very countries that have been supporting the government of Israel most throughout its carnage in Gaza, not least by continuing to provide Israel with weapons even after the atrocities were undeniable. 

Israel’s latest plan should finally, at long last, shake London, Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and Washington to their core. It should make them see beyond everyday politics, to their responsibility to humanity and history – and to their legal obligation to act. 

Without that, the question one day may indeed be, “How could they have allowed that to happen?” And everyone will know the answer.” Human Rights Watch

May 15th

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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.

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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.

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Abuse of medical staff by Israel


Reports of torture, beatings, starvation and humiliation of Palestinian medical staff by Israeli authorities

February 2025

With the welcome release of hostages from Gaza as part of the peace process, there has been considerable coverage of the condition of those arriving back home in Israel. Some have died in custody either as a result of bombing by Israel or by other means. Since journalists are not allowed in Gaza, obtaining independent confirmation of which is difficult. Those released have looked thin and haggard and Hamas used the process to make propaganda points. There have been no reports of torture or mistreatment however. Further coverage has shown their reception in Israel with large crowds welcoming them home.

Credible reports are emerging of the treatment of Palestinian medical people in Israel prisons. Health Care Workers Watch in a report published in December last year (accessible on their site) paints an horrific picture of their treatment. Medical staff, including surgeons, have been seized in hospitals – sometimes in the midst of performing surgery – and subjected to sustained brutal treatment and torture in Israel. Similar reports are produced by the World Health Organisation.

Medical staff have been thrown into lorries and have suffered severe beatings leaving them incapable of standing, The range of mistreatment is horrific and the detailed descriptions disturbing. In brief the treatment has included: beatings, often using rifle butts; severe injuries to genitalia; anal rape – again often with rifles; use of dogs; electrocution, sometimes while suspended from the ceiling; people forced into stress positions; prolonged solitary confinement; extremely loud music to prevent sleep, and not allowing medical prisoners to wash or change clothes for sustained periods of time sometimes months. All were eventually released without charge. WHO suggests that 297 medical staff were held, HCWW claim it was 384.

The reports paint a picture that suggests these arrests, combined with the attacks and destruction of medical facilities in Gaza itself, are part of a plan to make the territory unliveable. The reports are supported by evidence from an Israeli organisation, Physicians for Human Rights in Israel. They have visited prisoners and carried out their own interviews supporting the above allegations. A CNN report provides further horrific details. The Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem published a report Welcome to Hell describing the cruelties and torture inflicted in Israeli prisons more widely. There is also a report by Human Rights Watch on the torture of Palestinian medics. The Israeli government has denied all these allegations saying prisoners are held and treated according to law.

People reading this post may be surprised at the information above. This is because of the widespread failure of media to report it. There is considerable coverage of the homecomings and of the release of Hamas detainees whereas the treatment described here has received limited coverage.

The importance of language

Language is important no more so than during a time of conflict. Media reports describe those released by Hamas as ‘hostages’ in exchange for ‘prisoners’ being released by Israel. This is the language used by BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and print media to describe these events. It has become the standard way to describe them. It is thoroughly misleading. It demonstrates the capture of British media by the steady drip of Israeli misinformation combined with banning journalists access on the ground. It may also be an indication of the fear media groups have of being labelled ‘antisemitic’. Almost all criticism of Israel is labelled thus. Such criticism gives rise to accusations of the critic being ‘pro Hamas’. It is conveniently forgotten that Benyamin Netanyahu was a supporter of the organisation in an attempt to weaken the PLO.

Considerable evidence – from within the country and outside – shows that Israel has seized scores of medics (the subject of this post), threw them into lorries and subjected them to sustained periods of torture, abuse, did not allowed access to lawyers and with no charges made. How is this different from hostages? The word ‘prisoner’ implies some process of law. It also implies that said prisoners had committed some kind of crime. Yet no charges were made, none were taken before a magistrate, none were allowed legal representation and they were eventually released without charge after prolonged periods of mistreatment, solitary confinement and torture.

This has enabled Israel to occupy a kind of higher moral ground. The country suffered terribly on October 7th. Hamas killed 1,200*, seized hostages in their fearful raid on October 7th 2023 and held them for months and it still holds on to some. This is a war crime. Yet Israel’s subsequent behaviour, killing around 48,300 in Gaza with over 111,000 injured (WHO figures) and the vast destruction and mounting violence in the West Bank, has lost the nation much sympathy. It has not solved its central problem of long-term security and the prospects for a two state solution seem further away than ever.

Western media, by failing to report on these issues, is guilty of misleading the public.

Sources: WHO; CNN; Guardian; Health Care Workers Watch; Physicians for Human Rights in Israel; B’Tselem; Human Rights Watch. See also Health Workers for Palestine

*revised figure – Times of Israel 11 November 2023.

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