More than 800 legal experts and former Supreme Court judges write to Prime Minister Keir Starmer that genocide is being committed in Gaza
Staff reporter, Daily Dawn, Dawn TV Report
London: Nearly 380 prominent writers and literary organizations from Britain and Ireland have called for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered provision of humanitarian aid in a joint letter, describing the Israeli actions in Gaza as ‘genocide’.
The letter, published on the online platform Medium, states that there is no longer any disagreement among international legal experts or human rights organizations on the use of words like genocide to describe what is happening in Gaza.
The literary figures appealed to the international community to end its silence and inaction and raise an effective voice against the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The letter further states that the Palestinians are not imaginary victims of a fictitious war, often using words to justify the unjustifiable, deny the undeniable, and defend the indefensible.
The authors stressed that if Israel fails to ensure a ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid, it should be subject to international sanctions.
The letter also explains that this position is not anti-Semitic or against the Israeli people, but against the policies of the Israeli government.
The signatories to the letter include renowned novelists Zaidi Smith, Ian McEwan, Hanif Qureshi, and Elif Shafak.
The development comes at a time when the death toll from Israeli operations in Gaza has exceeded 53,000.
A similar letter was issued by 300 French-language writers, including Nobel laureates Anne Ernaux and Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, who also signed a similar statement condemning the genocide in Gaza.
In addition, more than 800 legal experts based in the UK, including former Supreme Court judges, wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying that genocide is being committed in Gaza or, at the very least, there is a serious risk of genocide.
This week, French activists painted the Fountain des Innocents, a famous fountain in Paris, red on Wednesday to protest the killing of Palestinians in Gaza.
Oxfam and Amnesty International activists demonstrated, holding placards that read: Ceasefire and stop the bloodshed in Gaza.
The activists said in their statement that they aim to condemn France’s slow response to the humanitarian emergency facing the people of Gaza.
Oxfam France Executive Director Cecile Duflot said that France should not be content with mere verbal condemnation, the people of Gaza are facing a severe shortage of necessities, and this is a matter of their survival.
The International Court of Justice has opened an investigation into allegations of genocide against Israel, but Israel continues to deny these allegations.
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