Palestine’s ambassador to the UK has said it is “simply unconscionable” the country continues to deliver arms to Israel.
Dr Husam Zomlot, speaking at the TUC conference in Brighton, said Palestine welcomed the UK government’s decision to suspend 30 out of 350 arms sale export licences to Israel this week.
However, he added: “It is simply unconscionable that the UK should continue to deliver any arms to Israel given what is clear to everyone, including UK lawyers, this is a grave violation of international law.”
As the war in Gaza approaches a year in October, Dr Zomlot called for an immediate ceasefire and end to the war.
“It will be a year of shame for Israel’s allies who have repeatedly failed to do what needs to be done,” he added.
The ambassador criticised governments around the world for not calling out “an entire eco system of genocide” established in Gaza this year.
He listed the number of civilian deaths, and destruction of houses, hospitals, schools and universities.
Palestine’s health minister on Wednesday said at least 41,084 Palestinians have been killed during the war and 95,029 have been wounded.
But Dr Zomlot also thanked the British people for their support, saying London and the UK have become the “epicentre” of global solidarity as tens of thousands of people have joined protests against the conflict.
“It is heart wrenching, it is heartwarming to see you, the British people supporting us,” he told the conference.
“More than 120,000 people marching after 11 months, is truly truly inspiring.”
A tent camp sheltering displaced people was hit by Israeli strikes this month. Pic: Reuters
Dr Zomlot also said the Palestinian people would survive the attempt to “erase” them and insisted Gaza will be rebuilt despite Israel’s “unhinged aggression”.
“There will be a huge reconstruction effort and we will need your experts, your engineers, teachers and professors,” he said.
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Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in their October 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war.
They abducted another 250 and are still holding about 100, with a third believed to be dead.
There have been 340 Israeli soldiers killed since the ground operation began in Gaza in late October, at least 50 of whom have been killed in accidents within Gaza – not as a result of combat with Palestinian militants, according to the military.
The Israeli military said two Israeli soldiers died and seven more were injured when their helicopter crashed in the southern Gaza Strip overnight.
The military said the crash was not the result of enemy fire and is under investigation.
The helicopter was on a mission to evacuate wounded soldiers from Gaza for treatment in Israeli hospitals.