UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer have both refrained from labeling the shooting of an unarmed Palestinian man waving a white flag in Gaza as a 'war crime.' The incident, captured on footage reported by ITV News, has raised concerns, with Sunak expressing he is 'concerned' about the loss of civilian life. Meanwhile, Starmer has been criticized for reversing his stance on the recognition of Palestinian statehood, a pledge previously made by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Starmer's current position suggests that statehood should come through peace talks, despite Israel's rejection of such talks with the Palestinians. This shift in policy has been met with accusations of political maneuvering and treating the peace process as a diversion, with some critics using the term 'GazaGenocide' to describe the situation. Opinion pieces by Jonathan K. Cook have highlighted these criticisms.
"Starmer’s political manoeuvring only clarifies what has long been true: the 'peace process', and its professed two-state goal, is viewed by western establishments entirely cynically. It is a diversion and stalling tactic." ✍️Opinion by @Jonathan_K_Cook https://t.co/4t0qiK7S7L
Britain's PM and opposition leader accused Russia of war crimes in Ukraine. Yet today, both Sunak and Starmer refuse to say whether Israel committed a war crime when it shot dead a Palestinian man holding a white flag this week, filmed by ITV. @richardsudan for @incontextmedia https://t.co/Cdc8lMNMGa
Britain's PM and opposition leader accused Russia of war crimes and genocide in Ukraine. Today, both Sunak and Starmer refuse to say whether Israel committed a war crime when it shot dead a Palestinian man holding a white flag this week. @richardsudan for @incontextmedia https://t.co/YXQ5agamhI
"When even 'moderate' Israeli politicians back genocide, who does Starmer imagine he is going to engage with in Israel for peace talks? Or is his real goal to let Israel do as it pleases indefinitely?" ✍️ Opinion by @Jonathan_K_Cook https://t.co/kxvZhCwbnb
How much horror does the world have to see before @Keir_Starmer calls for a ceasefire? #GazaGenocide https://t.co/ykvLEmgHwF
In the face of genocide in Gaza, the UK Labour leader Keir Starmer has dropped a pledge to recognize a Palestinian state, made by former leader Jeremy Corbyn. @richardsudan for @incontextmedia https://t.co/nFEnIZzNJO
"The order is being reversed: statehood, per Starmer’s new position, can only come about through peace talks, even though Israel rejects any talks with the Palestinians. Starmer is treating his party and voters like fools." ✍️Opinion by @Jonathan_K_Cook https://t.co/K4jwjIKGR5
"Three years ago, international recognition of Palestinian statehood, said Starmer, was the cudgel needed to get an intransigent Israel talking. Now the Labour leader treats a Palestinian state as an obstacle to dialogue." ✍️ Opinion by @Jonathan_K_Cook https://t.co/dpUh7hnppy
.@RishiSunak does not condemn the shooting of an unarmed man in Gaza as a 'war crime' It comes after @ITVNews reported on footage of the man being killed, despite being part of a group waving a white flag The PM does say he is 'concerned' about the loss of civilian life in Gaza https://t.co/6dqVdgeyw1
🇬🇧🇮🇱🇵🇸🚨‼️Starmer said it would be unwise to say if shooting a Palestinian man while he carried a white flag was a war crime. https://t.co/dVD5g1WkNu