Yesterday’s mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Jabalia refugee camp should overwhelmingly signal to the UK Government and Labour Party that they must now call for an immediate ceasefire.
UN OCHA states that an Israeli airstrike struck Jabalia refugee camp at 14:00, reportedly destroying an entire quarter with 30 residential buildings. At least 50 people are reported to have been killed, with further people being trapped under the rubble. MSF reports that young children arrived at the hospital with deep wounds and severe burns, without their families.
As constantly warned by LPHR, the Jabalia airstrike adds to the established fact pattern – assessed during this conflict and previous hostilities in Gaza – that Israel clearly appears not to be properly adhering to key IHL obligations of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack.
It is also abundantly established that Palestinian armed groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, act in manifest violation of IHL and international criminal law.
Systemic unlawful conduct by the parties to this conflict should be strongly challenged by the UK Government and Labour Party. Instead, by disavowing an immediate ceasefire and being unwilling to call out apparent serious violations of IHL committed by Israel, acute questions must regrettably be raised about their respect for the human rights of Palestinians in Gaza, including the right to life.
We urge the UK Government and Labour Party to urgently revise their position in light of the Jabalia mass killing, and clearly place the future preservation of civilian life as its highest objective.
This entails they publicly call for an immediate ceasefire; an end to the siege and unimpeded supply of humanitarian relief; the immediate release of all hostages; and to support the ICC to ensure legal accountability for perpetrators of violations of international criminal law.