New letter signed by Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz to pro-Israel leader demands peace and freedom
A new letter from more than half of Newham’s ruling Labour group, including executive mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, to Keir Starmer demands an immediate ceasefire, diplomacy for a lasting peace and freedom and justice for Gaza. Starmer has refused to support calls for a ceasefire until the US calls for one – and there is no sign of that, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken an ardent supporter of Israel and Zionism.
The letter reads:
Keir Starmer
Leader of the Labour Party
House of Commons
SW1A0AA
November 2023As Newham Labour Mayor and Councillors we are proud to represent one of the most diverse communities in the country. We are appalled and saddened by the events in the Middle East.
Some of us have been personally touched by the war, some of us will represent
residents whose lives have been thrown into turmoil and chaos or will watch on in horror.As community leaders it is incumbent on us to demonstrate our commitment to humanity in the face of horror. We must stand with our community in the face of racism whether that be antisemitism or lslamophobia. We must oppose all acts of murder and hostage taking. We stand against collective punishment and killing of vulnerable people especially in hospitals and places of sanctuary.
We call for the following actions:
- We join many other Labour councillors and council leaders, MPs, Labour Shadow
Ministers, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Sir Stephen nmms MP and others in
calling for an immediate ceasefire.
- We join the UN Secretary General’s call for an end to the blockade of medical
supplies and much needed aid.
- We call for the release of all illegally held prisoners and hostages.
- We call for international and human rights laws to be upheld particularty with
regards to the illegal occupation of both Gaza and the West Bank.
- We call for an immediate diplomatic solution to be found through peace talks and
agreements.
Signed by:
Name
Rokhsana Fiaz OBE
Anamul Islam
Areeq Chowdhury
Carolyn Corben
Charlene McLean
Dina Hossain
Dr John Whitworth
Dr Rohit K Das Gupta
Elizabeth Booker
Imam Haque
Jane Lofthouse
Jennifer Bailey
Larisa Zilickaja
Lewis Godfrey
Madeline Sarley Pontin
Mariam Dawood
Mohammed Gani
Mumtaz Khan
Muzibur Rahman
Nur Begum
Rita Chadha
Rohima Rahman
Sabia Kamali
Salim Patel
Sarah Ruiz
Sasha Das Gupta
Shaban Mohammed
Susan Masters
Syed Bashar
Terence Paul
Zuber Gulamussen
Zulfiqar Ali
The council group leaders of Burnley and Pendle have already called for Starmer’s resignation over his weakness and inhumanity.
Even members of Starmer’s shadow cabinet are now said to be furious that Starmer’s only policy on Gaza is to wait and see what US president Joe Biden does. Meanwhile, international doctors in Gaza say more than 5,000 children have been killed, thousands more orphaned and many more people are dying trapped under the rubble of Israeli airstrikes.
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Amazing how Starmer could immediately answer a question about Russian war crimes in Ukraine, and state unequivocally that it shouldn’t be ONLY Putin who was taken to the ICC, but when it came to EXACTLY the same crimes committed by Israel, then it shouldn’t be politicians making an instant judgement. Strange that. It’s almost as if he has no principles at all.
Talking of the ongoing war crimes Larry Johnson catalogues in a number of horrific videos the nature of what Starmer, on behalf of the Western oligarchy, is aiding and abetting:
https://sonar21.com/israel-cementing-its-reputation-as-a-war-criminal-u-s-feeling-the-heat-and-hezbollah-responds/
And, to add to that here, in all its stark explicit malevolence, is what the stance of the entire Western Political and Media Class is rooting for:
https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/israeli-woman-about-gaza-we-will-bomb-all-the-hospitals-and-kill-them-all
“An Israeli woman, apparently sending her son off to the Israel-Hamas war, was interviewed by EURO News and told them “The only innocent people in Gaza right now are the 229 hostages that were taken.” Then, she went farther.
She told EURO News “From the Jordan River, to the Middle East, that’s all ours. It was promised to us.”
She went on to say “There’s no Palestinian nation; no one wants them. So, why we? Because we are “good?” We finished to be good, three weeks ago.”
Continuing in the interview, she told EURO News, “The only innocent people that are in Gaza now, are the 229 hostage that were taken. Once they will go back to Israel, we will bomb; Shifa Hospital, all the hospitals, all the tunnels and kill them all. It’s about time.”
She wrapped-up her assessment by saying “The world knows that, there’s no argue about that. We are the center of the world, now.””
She demonstrates the attitudes which have been pregnant with the present horrors for 75 years.
Starmer now advertises his craven Establishment careerism as never before. The growing snowball of councillors calling for his resignation should mean it’s a matter of short time before we see a leadership challenge to Starmer.
Together with his palpable lying to get the leadership & his ultra-remoaniac Tory-enabling which has inflicted this appalling government on the British people, his continued unashamed Zionism makes him a dead-duck leader who will either continue much of the policies of Bojo, unelected Truss & unelected Sunak or will yet succeed in wresting defeat from the jaws of victory. Britain’s Muslims & a growing constituency beyond will not vote for a party led by Starmer.
Starmer’s treachery to Jeremy Corbyn is a taste of what Britain can expect of a Starmer government.
Call me a cynic Brian, but Labour’s PLP aren’t the same as Labour Cllrs. Unlike MPs, Labour Cllrs face open selections and since 2015 many of them are from Corbyn’s supporters.
Please remember that in 2016 the PLP took a vote of non confidence in Corbyn, a measure that isn’t even contemplated in Labour’s Rule Book.
All their “fury” is abour Starmer been clumsy rather that any members of the Shadow Cabinet or Shadow Front bench truly supporting the Palestinian cause.
They didn’t have any problem resigning from the Shadow Cabinet when Corbyn as leader. Why are they hesitant now?
The PLP would only acts if it becomes convinced that Starmer will not win for them the next General Election. Right now the mood among the PLP is that never mind how the public feels about Starmer’s statements over the situation in Gaza, their feeling against the Tories are worse.
As a Newham voter I will NEVER vote Labour as long as Starmer leads.
The rotteness of the Labour Party runs deeper than Starmer. You must see that.th
He has no principles other than those that serve him and his paymasters. The so called human rights lawyer has probably skived off when the Geneva Convention was on the agenda…… He needs to go. He is highly toxic.
You are almost correct JoeRobson.
He only appears to have two sets of principles:
1. Those directed by the Trilateral Commission, of which he was a member for several years.
What’s the Trilateral Commission ?
The International Arm of American Foreign Policy for running the World Order.
2. The principle of support for the murderous, Apartheid State of Israel … as evidenced by his own declaration that he is “a Zionist without qualification”
A substantial donation of £50,000 towards his campaign for the Labour leadership by Sir Trevor Chinn, a membership of the Jewish Leadership Council, may have assisted his thinking in this direction.
Meanwhile, hot on the heels of the previous Skwawkbox article about the proposed French law seeking to outlaw any criticism of a fascist ideology – Zionism – a law proposing to ban all Palestinians from the US (including refugees if any survive) has ten sponsors:
https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/news-nation/congressman-introduces-bill-to-expel-palestinians-from-us-based-on-national-origin
The so called SAFE Act seeks to ban people based on their national origin.
This is truly awful.
This, more encouraging:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/senators-cessation-hostilities-gaza
“Keep up the pressure, friends,” said one peace advocate. “It’s working.”
Yes – Keep up the pressure, friends.
Once again today I joined thousands in the city centre to march and chant and demonstrate our disgust for our politicians in UK, Europe and USA. .It was a rousing call on behalf of humanity for a cease-fire, peace and justice for Palestinians.
Israel was denounced as a terror-state and an Apartheid-state.
Sunak and Starmer were exposed for the barbarians that they are.
All ages, nationalities and races were there.
Keep up the pressure.
Palestine will be free.
Richard Tice was on GB News this morning fraudulently ranting and raving about the ‘pro Hamas’ demonstrators and claiming that on yesterday’s demo in London people were chanting ‘death to all Jews’, and gave the impression that everyone was chanting it. And the presenter who was ‘interviewing’ him – ie Ann Diamond – just let it pass, and did so knowing that it was a big malevolent falsehood and smear,because, needless to say, if it had happened it would have been a top news story all over the MSM. Including GB News!
And not only is he inciting hostility towards the protesters, but like Braverman and Rachael Riley (on Newsnight the Tuesday before last), their Nazi-type lies will undoubtedly be causing concern and worry in the Jewish population. And THAT tells you all you need to know about how much they care about Jews and their fellow Jews. Surely, on the one hand, it’s antisemitic to cause concern and consternation amongst the Jewish community with lies and falsehoods, and slanderous to demonise a large number of people on the other. One thing is for sure, it’s pure, unadulterated evil, as they themselves are of course!
Anyway, I came across this Nazi-type article in the Express from a couple of days ago when I did a search re Richard Tice:
‘Deport foreign nationals who violate Remembrance with pro-Palestine marches, demands Tice’
Mr Tice has joined calls for the army to be deployed on the streets of London to protect the commemorations and deal with any protesters trying to demonstrate over the weekend.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1831321/deport-foreign-nationals-pro-palestine-marches-richard-tice?utm_source=mynewsassistant.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=embedded_search_item_desktop
Correction: What Tice said was that people were chanting ‘Death to the Jews’, to be precise.
Who are the members of the Shadow Cabinet/Shadow Front bench that are furious? What are they furious about exactly?
Call me a cynic but, I don’t believe they want a cease fire either, most likely they just wish that Starmer haven’t been so clumsy letting the mask slip and are now playing to the gallery.
Otherwise, if they are so furious:
– why not a single resignation from Cabinet of the Shadow Front Bench?
-why not challenge Starmer to a leadership contest?
It would be interesting to compare the different responses, Labour MPs in the Shadow Cabinet/Shadow Front bench have written to their consituents. It would give us an opportunity to compare responses and assessing how “furious” each of them trully are.
That it should it take a foreign conflict for these rodents to be supposedly ‘furious’ with keef…
He’s shat on just about everything and everyone domestically, and continues to openly support the toerags (and will do so until the day either they or he, or both, are punted) on policies across the spectrum.
They openly agree with, and push for these toerag policies, designed for no other reason than to maintain the status quo of corporate avarice and the slow eradication of common law, to be replaced by corporate law.
Those that refuse to speak out are complicit. Be that on the israeli butchery that can be (but for some reason, isn’t) euphemised as ethnic cleansing, or the financial terrorism, social cleansing and withdrawal of civil liberties imposed (generally on the poorest) here in blighty.
Maria
Not a single resignation from ANY Labour MP – front or back bench,right, left, so called centre, Muslim,Jew, Christian, any religion or no religion.
They may be ” furious” but clearly NONE of them are furious enough to risk their seats on the gravy train. I am disgusted with the lot of them and so very disappointed in our Left MPs – I thought they were better than that .
I will be voting Green at the next election. I urge others to do likewise
Maria, they are all repulsive. Should have stood down and left the party forits beliefs. Methinks the force of junkers, suits , baubles and exes is strong in this tribe.
UNR 181 defines the borders of the Jewish State.
These are the only internationally recognized boundaries of Israel.
A claim [to self-defense] is being bandied about by Western leaders in relation to the attack on October 7th by Palestinian paramilitaries. Yet para. 139 of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on the legality of the wall, dated 2004, and in that paragraph, the court makes it clear that Israel does not enjoy a right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter in relation to attacks that emanate from within the occupied territory. This does not qualify as self-defense under International Law.
Ergo, Geneva convention signatories MUST bring prosecutions and indictments against israel, which they’re obliged to do by virtue of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
All high contracting parties – that is, 194 states – have obligations under the Geneva Conventions to prosecute or extradite those who order or commit grave breaches of the Convention, which include the war crimes that we’ve seen take place across Gaza and beyond. And to the extent they don’t, they’re not abiding by their international legal obligations.
supporting israel against gaza is violating the geneva convention.
139. Under the terms of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations:
“Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.”
Article 51 of the Charter thus recognizes the existence of an inherent right of self-defence in the case of armed attack by one State against another State. However, Israel does not claim that the attacks against it are imputable to a foreign State.
The Court also notes that Israel exercises control in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and that, as Israel itself states, the threat which it regards as justifying the construction of the wall originates within, and not outside, that territory. The situation is thus different from that contemplated by Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001), and therefore Israel could not in any event invoke those resolutions in support of its claim to be exercising a right of self-defence.
Consequently, the Court concludes that Article 51 of the Charter has no relevance in this case.https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-178825/
Steady now harry, you’ll be getting a demand to answer the question “Is the UN supporting Hamas?” from this sites answer to Simple Simon.
SKWAWKBOX’s analysis (in the next article) does well to highlight Asa Winstanley’s observation ( here ) that ‘Labour witch hunt lives on’. Not only is the script the same, some of the players are too. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign is being played.
The fact that Ben Soffa works within the same organisation as a former Mossad employee tells anyone all they need know about how the PSC has been subverted by the Western Oligarchy.
The bureaucratic tail is wagging the active citizenry’s dog here and the Palestinians need a new solidarity organisation which is not corrupted and tainted by those actively seeking to exterminate not only Palestinians but their support organisations.
Wheres BLM? They know a thing or three about this sort of stuff.
(credit MS)
“In Manchester, an estimated 20,000 people marched through the city centre while thousands occupied Piccadilly railway station and brought it to a halt.
“Adie Mormech of Manchester Palestine Action said: “This is not just for the ongoing abominable genocide in Gaza where they have murdered over 9,000 people, 4,000 children and bombed hospitals, schools used as shelters, mosques, churches, densely populated refugee camps and people fleeing in convoys or ambulances.
“The massive mobilisations … are for the 75 years of Israel’s settler colonisation of Palestine, brutal occupations, ethnically cleansing Palestinians, imprisoning them and mass murdering them.
“Palestine will always stand, and we won’t stop till they’re free.”
Thousands marched and rallied in Leeds, with speakers including the city’s former Euro-MP Michael McGowan who joined Labour politicians calling for the resignation of party leader Sir Keir Starmer over his stance on a ceasefire.
He told the rally: “While Starmer has been pondering about his position, the bombing, the starvation and the mass slaughter of civilians has increased, as have the attempts to stifle discussion within the Labour Party among MPs, councillors and members.
“The only choice for Keir Starmer is to call for an urgent ceasefire or resign as leader of the Labour Party.”
I’m just wondering who the MS thinks pro-Palestine former-EuroMP Michael McGowan was aligning himself with in Leeds over their criticism of Starmer?
I know there’s an elephant in this room somewhere. It’s gargantuan. But whose elephant is it – the Morning Star’s in pretending there’s a Labour opposition to Starmer’s zionism,or the pro-P|Palestine representatives for not speaking-up strongly enough? The only way we’ll know is when the MPs, councillors and trades unionists actually stand up to be counted.
Starmer’s bullying seems to be working. Everybody’s too scared to speak up strongly-enough.
Starmer’s bullying seems to be working. Everybody’s too scared to speak up strongly-enough.
Can’t bully anyone who isn’t a party member. Nor can he garner funding or any legwork from those people.
Those too scared just aren’t principled enough. They’ve shown that with smarmer’s previous track record of outright toerag shithousery.
They’ve been warned about smarmer’s megalomania, and still they persevered.
Well now it’s landing on them, as repeatedly foretold. They know what to do if they’re being cajoled or coerced.
If the party you belong to and that you pay, threatens and bullies you, why are you in it?