Pro-Palestinian activists have slammed Sir Keir Starmer’s Gaza ceasefire statement as a “disgusting refusal to acknowledge Israeli war crimes”, vowing to continue to march through London.
Yesterday, Israel and Hamas announced that they have reached a ceasefire deal designed to end the 15-month-long war.
A Hamas official said the group’s leader Khalil Al Hayya has delivered approval of the ceasefire agreement to mediators in Qatar.
The agreement will come into effect on Sunday as long as the Israeli cabinet approves it, though Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Hamas still need to back down on “last-minute concessions” on some aspects of the deal before this can happen.
Starmer welcomed the ceasefire and hostage deal as ‘long overdue news’
PA
Starmer welcomed the ceasefire and hostage deal as “long overdue news” in a statement posted online.
He paid tribute to British citizens who were “murdered by Hamas” and vowed that the UK and its allies would continue to try and “break the cycle of violence and secure long-term peace” for Israelis and Palestinians.
Starmer said: “After months of devastating bloodshed and countless lives lost, this is the long-overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for.
“They have borne the brunt of this conflict, triggered by the brutal terrorists of Hamas, who committed the deadliest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023.
“The hostages, who were brutally ripped from their homes on that day and held captive in unimaginable conditions ever since, can now finally return to their families.”
He continued: “For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza.”
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However, Pro-Palestintian activists have critiqued the wording used in the Prime Minister’s statement, which they believe portrays Israelis in a more sympathetic light and as having suffered more.
One user wrote online: “Imagine if Hamas released a statement saying 47,000 Palestinians were ‘massacred by terrorists in Israel’, and that 1,706 Israelis ‘lost their lives’ on October 7. Imagine the outrage.”
“Keir Starmer’s statement is a disgusting refusal to acknowledge Israeli war crimes.”
Other users echoed this statement, highlighting the various ways Starmer refers to the Israelis’ suffering, such as “brutal terrorism” and “deadliest massacre”, whilst Palestinians simply “lost their lives”.
Another said: “His language drips racism,” whilst a different user chimed in: “He knows exactly what happened to many thousands of Palestinians – from rape and torture to mass executions and detention.”
They added: “Not a human rights lawyer I’d want on my side, I can tell you.”
Some, however, heaped praise on Starmer for his statement.
One user said: “Thank you, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for your remarkable statement and the exceptional role you played in securing this vital ceasefire.
“Your efforts have upheld the legacy of Britain’s great leaders, enhancing our nation’s honour and international reputation. May God bless you and bless Britain.”
Another said: “Best Of The Best Prime Minister History Of UK.”
A man holds up a Lebanese flag, as Palestinian supporters celebrate news of a ceasefire with Israel, in Berlin, Germany
Reuters
Supporters of Israeli hostages, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 2023 attack by Hamas, attend a protest to demand a deal to bring every hostage home at once
Reuters
Despite the ceasefire agreement, Palestinian activists are still going ahead with a march planned in the capital on January 18.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign is currently looking for stewards to man the event.
Some questioned the decision to run a march in light of recent news. “Standown, ceasefire incoming,” one said, whilst another simply commented “why?”
As part of the deal, negotiations over the second phase of the agreement are set to begin by the 16th day of phase one and are expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, a permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Gaza.
Hamas will release all remaining hostages over a six-week period with three hostages released every week and the remainder before the end of the period.
The third phase is expected to include the return of all remaining dead bodies and the start of Gaza reconstruction, supervised by Egypt, Qatar and the UN.
