The Mayor of London has previously resisted calls to label Israel’s military campaign a genocide but now says it’s “inescapable” to conclude that
Sir Sadiq Khan has broken ranks with the Labour government to declare events unfolding in Gaza as a “genocide”.
The Mayor of London said it was “inescapable to draw” the same conclusion as a United Nations Commission of Inquiry this week that the Israeli government were committing a genocide against Palestinians.
Sir Sadiq’s intervention at People’s Question Time last night (Wednesday, September 17) is the first time he has used the term. It also flies directly in the face of the UK government, which said earlier this month that Israel is not acting “with intent” to commit genocide.
“What is happening in Gaza is a genocide,” the Mayor of London told an audience in Hammersmith yesterday. “When I see the images of the children starving – 20,000 children have starved because of the policies of the Israeli government – when I see the health system in Gaza collapsed, when I see the lack of supplies reaching people in need, when I see the famine that is man made, when I read the interim judgment of the International Court of Justice and then see a UN commission report this week, I think it’s inescapable to draw the conclusion in Gaza we are seeing before our very eyes a genocide.”
The declaration was welcomed by Assembly Members from other parties, who have previously called on the Mayor to use the term.
Hina Bokhari, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, told the LDRS: “All politicians should condemn this genocide. I sincerely welcome the Mayor acknowledging the reality of what is happening in Gaza.
“The real question is whether his party will follow him and whether the Prime Minister will today demand action from the only person who can stop this: Donald Trump.”
Last week the Mayor was questioned by Zack Polanski, the London Assembly Member who was also recently elected Green Party Leader, who said he “deliberately didn’t use the word ‘genocide'” when describing the situation on the ground.
Sir Sadiq replied: “It’s important when you’re the leader of a political party, not to mislead. That’s not what the [International Court of Justice] said – they said plausible genocide. It’s got worse, not better, since then – it’s important for the court to look again.”
Last night Mr Polanski said: “He has finally said he thinks what’s happening in Gaza is a genocide. Political pressure works. We must keep it up until they all speak the truth. Stop selling arms to Israel. Ceasefire now.”
Earlier this week a UN Commission of Inquiry report concluded that there are reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out since the start of the Israeli invasion in October 2023.
It cites statements by Israeli leaders, and the pattern of conduct by Israeli forces, as evidence of genocidal intent.
Last year the International Court of Justice said it was “plausible” that Israel had committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention. But the City Hall Conservatives said the Mayor should also note the impact of the Hamas attacks on October 7, which killed about 1,200 people and saw more than 250 hostages being taken.
Assembly Member Neil Garratt told the LDRS: “The situation in the Middle East is horrifying to watch on our screens, and unimaginable terror for the people living there – and efforts for a ceasefire are something that politicians should be actively pursuing.
“We must remember when we talk about this, however, the events of October 7, which began this chain of misery, and the hostages who still await release – as well as the very real impact this conflict has on Londoners, particularly our Jewish and Muslim communities.
“As politicians in London, we cannot pretend to be able to solve war overseas. But we can resolve to fight against the abuse, harassment, intimidation and attacks on communities in London as a result of the conflict.”
The Mayor of London has a track record of going further than his Labour compatriots in Government on the situation in Gaza. He called for a ceasefire in October 2023, just a few weeks after the Israeli invasion started, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took until July 2024 to do so.
In July, Sir Sadiq urged ministers to recognise a Palestinian state immediately, something that Sir Keir is set to do this weekend.
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