Israel is systematically killing healthcare workers and journalists, doctors warn
ISRAEL is systematically killing healthcare workers and journalists in Gaza, doctors said today, in a direct plea for British media to scrutinise their country’s complicity in genocide.
At a London press conference on Gaza’s media blackout, hospital doctors gave first-hand accounts of how colleagues and reporters have been abducted, tortured and killed.
The British Palestinian Committee (BPC) and the UK Gaza Community (UKGC) hosted the event hours after Reporters Without Borders (RSF) revealed that Israeli armed forces were behind a third of the 54 journalists killed worldwide because of their work in 2024.
“Palestine is the most dangerous country for journalists, recording a higher death toll than any other country over the past five years,” the organisation said in its annual report, describing the number of killings as “an unprecedented bloodbath.”
RSF has filed four complaints with the International Criminal Court for “war crimes committed against journalists by the Israeli army.”
It said more than 145 journalists had been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza since October 2023.
At least 1,000 health workers have also been killed there during the Israeli onslaught.
At the conference, Dr Mohamed Ashraf showed photos of several colleagues who have been killed or abducted by Israeli forces since October 7.
“These are real people, these are real stories,” he said, describing how Dr Mosab Samman was abducted from Nasser Hospital in March, saying that the only offence he committed was volunteering to help his people inside the hospital.
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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/israel-is-systematically-killing-healthcare-workers-and-journalists-doctors-warn
Israeli army chief given special immunity to visit Britain
https://www.declassifieduk.org/israeli-army-chief-given-special-immunity-to-visit-britain/
Declassified UK Exclusive: IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi was given a “special mission” certificate for his trip to the UK last month, allowing him to visit without fear of arrest for war crimes.
The UK government has confirmed that Israel’s top soldier, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, was given special diplomatic immunity to visit Britain last month.
Halevi is the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and has been directing the Israeli military’s operations throughout the Gaza genocide.
He arrived in Britain in late November to discuss “the ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza” with senior UK officials from the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office. A further meeting was held with Britain’s attorney general, Richard Hermer.
The trip came just three days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for “crimes against humanity and war crimes”.
Halevi was initially reported to have been included in the ICC’s arrest applications for the crime of having “deliberately starved Palestinians in Gaza”.
While Halevi was not ultimately named in those ICC warrants, it is possible to issue private arrest applications in Britain under universal jurisdiction legislation, which allows for the most serious crimes to be prosecuted regardless of where they are committed.
However, the UK government blocked this avenue for redress by issuing Halevi with a “special mission certificate”, granting him temporary diplomatic immunity for the duration of the visit.
In response to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Brian Leishman, the Foreign Office yesterday admitted it “gave consent for special mission status for the visit to the UK on 24-25 November of Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi… and [his] delegation”.
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) told Declassified: “It seems beyond belief that the UK attorney general could meet with the head of the IDF, mere days after arrest warrants were issued for Netanyahu and Gallant.
“Halevi may not yet have an arrest warrant himself, but regardless, the International Criminal Court Act 2001 obliges the UK to investigate, arrest and prosecute suspected war criminals.”
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Read the full article at https://www.declassifieduk.org/israeli-army-chief-given-special-immunity-to-visit-britain/
Starmer ducks taking firm action against Israel’s Gaza genocide at PMQs
SIR KEIR STARMER again ducked taking firm action against Israel over the Gaza genocide when pressured in the Commons today.
Belfast South Social Democratic and Labour MP Claire Hanna demanded to know when Israel would be held to the same standards as Russia. They demanded action including an arms embargo, sanctions and the recognition of a Palestinian state.
But the Prime Minister merely reiterated calls for a ceasefire, release of Israeli hostages and the eventual implementation of a “two-state solution” in Palestine.
Otherwise, Sir Keir spent Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in an unedifying row with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch as to who had the tougher anti-migrant record.
The strategy is not working for Labour politically, as its approval rating has fallen to a record low of minus 41 per cent, according to a YouGov poll.
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