UK
Israel Gaza: FM Lord Cameron supports 'sustainable ceasefire' and warns over deaths

Andre Rhoden-Paul - BBC News
Sun, December 17, 2023 

Lord Cameron

The foreign secretary has said he would like to see a "sustainable ceasefire" in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Lord Cameron also warned "too many civilians have been killed" in Gaza.

More than 18,000 people have been killed, including thousands of children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

His intervention in a Sunday Times article marks a shift in tone from the UK government, but stops short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Penning a joint article with Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Lord Cameron said he supported a ceasefire only if it was sustainable in the long term.

He said: "Our goal cannot simply be an end to fighting today. It must be peace lasting for days, years, generations.

"We therefore support a ceasefire, but only if it is sustainable."

Earlier this week the UK and Germany abstained over a United Nations resolution, backed by 153 countries, demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

On Sunday France, which was among the countries which voted for the resolution, called for an "immediate and durable truce" in the conflict, ahead of a meeting between the French and Israeli foreign ministers in Tel Aviv.

Seeking to explain the UK's position, Lord Cameron wrote: "We do not believe that calling right now for a general and immediate ceasefire, hoping it somehow becomes permanent, is the way forward."

He added: "Would Hamas stop firing rockets? Would it release the hostages? Would its murderous ideology change? An unsustainable ceasefire, quickly collapsing into further violence, would only make it harder to build the confidence needed for peace."

Instead the UK and Germany are pushing for further humanitarian pauses to get more aid in and more hostages out.

Palestinians inspect damage in the northern Gaza on Saturday

Lord Cameron's comments amplify Rishi Sunak's line set out at Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions.

"We have been consistent that what we support is a sustainable ceasefire, which means Hamas must stop launching rockets into Israel and release all the hostages," Mr Sunak said.

Appearing on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: "In order for a ceasefire to be sustainable, we have to ensure we remove the threat of Hamas from Israel...

"So, that's why we continue to support Israel in its right to self-defence, to remove the threat of Hamas, and at the same time to get those hostages back."

Asked if he thought Israel had gone too far, Mr Dowden said: "I wouldn't characterise it as Israel going too far. Israel is dealing with a very difficult situation."

He said the UK continued to urge Israel to exercise restraint but added: "If you're going after an enemy that literally hides underneath hospitals, hides amongst the civilian population, you are going to sustain high levels of civilian casualties."

The offensive into Gaza, triggered by Hamas's deadly 7 October attack on Israel which killed 1,200 people, has led to vast areas of the territory being flattened.

In a sign attitudes are shifting, in the article, the UK and German foreign ministers warned that Israel "should do more to discriminate sufficiently between terrorists and civilians".

They also said more aid must reach Gaza, amid warnings from the United Nations of a humanitarian catastrophe due to widespread shortages of basic supplies.

Israel's main ally the US has also expressed unease over the failure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration to reduce civilian casualties.

Deflecting that pressure on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu said: "Military pressure is necessary both for the return of the hostages and for victory. Without military pressure... we have nothing."

Cameron adds to growing pressure on Israel with ‘sustainable ceasefire’ call

Dominic McGrath, PA Political Staff
Sun, December 17, 2023 



The Government has added to growing global pressure on Israel as the Foreign Secretary called for a “sustainable ceasefire” in the escalating Gaza conflict.

Lord Cameron’s intervention, which saw him warn that “too many civilians have been killed”, is a significant shift in the Government’s tone.

It sees the UK follow Joe Biden’s White House in expressing unease about the failure of Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration to reduce civilian casualties and its plans for the future of Gaza.

Writing in the Sunday Times in a joint article with German foreign affairs minister Annalena Baerbock, Lord Cameron said: “Our goal cannot simply be an end to fighting today. It must be peace lasting for days, years, generations. We therefore support a ceasefire, but only if it is sustainable.”

But both Lord Cameron and his German counterpart stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire, something that has been a recurring demand by pro-Palestinian campaigners as the death count in Gaza continues to grow.

“We know many in the region and beyond have been calling for an immediate ceasefire,” the article said. “We recognise what motivates these heartfelt calls.

“It is an understandable reaction to such intense suffering, and we share the view that this conflict cannot drag on and on. That is why we supported the recent humanitarian pauses.”

The offensive, triggered by the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has flattened much of northern Gaza and driven 85% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes.

Displaced people have squeezed into shelters mainly in the south in a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

In a warning to Israel, the two foreign ministers said: “Israel has the right to defend itself but, in doing so, it must abide by international humanitarian law.

“Israel will not win this war if its operations destroy the prospect of peaceful co-existence with Palestinians. They have a right to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas.

“But too many civilians have been killed. The Israeli government should do more to discriminate sufficiently between terrorists and civilians, ensuring its campaign targets Hamas leaders and operatives.”

The shift in language by the UK Government comes as Mr Netanyahu faces public anger after it emerged that the three hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed.

In a nationwide address on Saturday, the Israeli primer minister said the killings “broke my heart, broke the entire nation’s heart,” but he indicated no change in the country’s military campaign.

“We are as committed as ever to continue until the end, until we dismantle Hamas, until we return all our hostages,” he said.

For Labour, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “The question isn’t whether any of us want a ceasefire, of course people want to see a ceasefire, an end to this bloody conflict.”

Mr Streeting said there have been “intolerable losses” in Gaza, adding: “The question is how do you get from where we are today to where we want to be.

“I think David Cameron talked about a sustainable ceasefire and I think that’s absolutely right.”

Mr Streeting pointed to the previous humanitarian pause, adding: “I think we’ve just got to keep in mind a ceasefire comes about when both parties to the conflict are able to negotiate a ceasefire.

“We’ve got to build a political path to that point and then beyond.”


Israel risks breaking law with its ‘killing rage’, says Ben Wallace


Daniel Martin
Sun, December 17, 2023 

Ben Wallace says he 'unequivocally’ condemns Hamas violence on Oct 7 and is not calling for a ceasefire - Brian Lawless/PA

Israel risks losing legal authority for its war in Gaza by going on a crude and indiscriminate “killing rage” against the Palestinian people, Ben Wallace warns today.

The former defence secretary warns the country’s tactics will “fuel the conflict for another 50 years” and will radicalise young Muslims across the world.

His comments, made in an article for the Daily Telegraph, come amid a shift in tone from Britain and the West toward Israel as the death toll in Gaza spirals.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, joined with his German counterpart to call for a “sustainable ceasefire” in the territory, adding that “too many civilians have been killed”. Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said the approach would mean “hostages released, rockets stop flowing and there’s actually a political process in place to make sure that we get to the day after”.

Mr Wallace warns that Benjamin Netanyahu is undermining Israel’s legal case for the war - MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images

But Mr Wallace warns that Benjamin Netanyahu is risking breaking the Geneva Convention and undermining Israel’s legal case for the war – that it is acting in self-defence.

“Going after Hamas is legitimate; obliterating vast swathes of Gaza is not,” he said. “Using proportionate force is legal but collective punishment and forced movement of civilians is not.

“We are entering a dangerous period now where Israel’s original legal authority of self-defence is being undermined by its own actions. It is making the mistake of losing its moral authority alongside its legal one.”

Ben Wallace said that the Israeli prime minister is in danger of breaking the Geneva Convention - ABIR SULTAN/REUTERS

Mr Wallace said the current generation of Israeli politicians were acting like a “bull in a China shop”, and said the hardline Israeli prime minister was “losing sight of the long term” because his government missed the Hamas attack in the first place.

“But if he thinks a killing rage will rectify matters, then he is very wrong,” he said. “His methods will not solve this problem.

“In fact, I believe his tactics will fuel the conflict for another 50 years. His actions are radicalising Muslim youth across the globe.”

The former defence secretary added: “Before anyone says I am calling for a ceasefire with Hamas – I am not. You can’t have a ceasefire with Hamas unless they are prepared to declare one; even then they would have to pledge to modify their charter to do so.

“What I am saying is Israel needs to stop this crude and indiscriminate method of attack. And it needs to combat Hamas differently.”

He urged Israel to learn from the British experience in Northern Ireland, which proved that “as sure as night follows day, history shows us that radicalisation follows oppression”.

“Northern Ireland internment taught us that a disproportionate response by the state can serve as a terrorist organisation’s best recruiting sergeant,” he says. “For many, watching the events in Gaza unfold each day, makes us more and more uncomfortable.”

The former defence secretary said ‘going after Hamas is legitimate; obliterating vast swathes of Gaza is not‘

The comments came amid increasing concern at the death toll in Gaza from the US, the UK, Germany and France.

While Western leaders still support Israel’s right to defend itself by targeting Hamas, they are concerned at the disproportionate use of violence, which they suspect risks breaking international law.

Yesterday it emerged the US will push Israel to conduct “small-scale” raids against Hamas instead of its major ground and air offensive.

Yesterday it emerged the US will push Israel to conduct “small-scale” raids against Hamas instead of its major ground and air offensive.

Lloyd J Austin III, the US defence secretary, is set to meet with Mr Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defence minister, this week to discuss a new phase of the conflict.

According to US officials, this would involve smaller groups of elite forces conducting more precise intelligence-driven missions to kill Hamas leaders and rescue the hostages.

Mr Austin is still expected to reiterate support for Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas, but also restate the importance of civilian safety and the need to increase humanitarian assistance.

It echoes comments made by Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden’s national security adviser, who last week said there would be a transition to another phase of the war that is focused in “more precise ways”.

Lord Cameron has called for ‘peace lasting for days, years, generations’ - Alexander Ermochenko/REUTERS

The change in the American stance came as Lord Cameron unveiled a change of heart in the British position.

‘We support a sustainable ceasefire’

In a joint article in The Sunday Times with Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, he called for “peace lasting for days, years, generations,” adding that “too many civilians have been killed.”

“Only extremists like Hamas want us stuck in an endless cycle of violence, sacrificing more innocent lives for their fanatical ideology,” they wrote.

“But our goal cannot simply be an end to fighting today. It must be peace lasting for days, years, generations. We therefore support a ceasefire, but only if it is sustainable.”
‘Israel needs to exercise restraint’

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, said the government did not believe Israel had gone “too far” – but wanted it to “exercise restraint”.

“I wouldn’t characterise it as Israel going too far,” he said. “Israel is dealing with a very difficult situation…

“If you’re going after an enemy that literally hides underneath hospitals, hides amongst the civilian population, you are going to sustain high levels of civilian casualties.”

He added: “What we as a UK Government is saying is, Israel, you do need to exercise restraint.”
‘Too many civilians are being killed’

On Sunday, Catherine Colonna, the French foreign minister, called for an “immediate and durable” truce in the war with Hamas.

On a visit to Israel, she said: “Too many civilians are being killed” and added that Paris was “deeply concerned” over the situation in Gaza.
Netanyahu has ‘lost the trust of the world’

Yair Lapid, Israeli opposition leader and former prime minister, called for Mr Netanyahu to step down, saying: “We have a prime minister who lost the trust of the people, lost the trust of the world and lost the trust of the security establishment.”

It came as the Israeli army claimed it had uncovered the largest Hamas tunnel in the Gaza Strip so far. The underground passage formed part of a wider network that stretched for over 2.5 miles, it said.