It is no longer enough to march and hold meetings to protest against the slaughter of the Palestinian people; we need action.  The Socialist Labour Party calls for a boycott of any shop selling goods that come from Israel – an action that was used so effectively against the evil of South African apartheid.
We must remember that Palestine including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem is occupied by Israel.  On 7 October 2023, Hamas troops broke out of the world’s largest open-air prison and entered land which was taken from Palestine in 1948.
It is a matter of regret and sorrow that on 7 October 1400 people died following the Hamas attack – just as the deaths of thousands of Palestinians due to the long decades of Israeli occupation is a matter of regret and sorrow. Israeli social media sources confirm that Israel Defence Force fire accounted for some of these fatalities.
Since 7 October, the Socialist Labour Party like so many other organisations throughout the world has been horrified by the carnage perpetrated by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza and on the West Bank: Â nearly 20,000 killed, and this includes three Israeli hostages who were carrying a white flag of surrender and calling out in Hebrew.
Israel’s relentless slaughter by bombing and ground troops has shocked nations around the world.  The United Nations Security Council would have voted recently for a ceasefire but for the veto of the United States.  The UN General Assembly, however, DID vote for a ceasefire – by 153 votes, with 23 abstentions and 10 votes against (among them Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom).
Of the UN’s 186 member nations, 82.25%  voted for an immediate cease-fire, whilst only 5.4% voted against.  The General Assembly’s morally binding decision should affect the Security Council.  In other words, Ceasefire Now!
We not only need a cease fire now, but steps must be taken to bring the leaders of Israel’s fascist government to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face charges  of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, in accordance with the Rome Statute.
Arthur Scargill
Socialist Labour Party
18 December 2023