The Canary asked Independent Alliance MP Shockat Adam for his thoughts on Donald Trump’s call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. And he stressed that the UK government’s failure to challenge this in any meaningful way “will end the world order as we know it”.
Canary: What would you say about the precedent Trump’s embrace of ethnic cleansing, along with his predecessor’s embrace of genocide, is setting?
Shockat Adam: It is a dangerous and alarming precedent for regional and international security. It is appalling for the international legal and moral order, but it isn’t is surprising.
President Trump is simply articulating similar sentiments to his predecessors and saying out loud what some within the Israeli Government have always wished for. Right wing Government Members in Israel have long rejected a two-state solution and their politicians speak of the annihilation of the Palestinian people.
This is simply the latest grim iteration of long held views.
How do you feel about the failure of most mainstream media outlets to openly call the plans “ethnic cleansing”?
The imbalance of reporting has been a defining feature of this conflict:
- The embargo on international journalists has not been roundly condemned.
- The unfair semantics that describe young Israelis as ‘children’, while young Palestinians are ‘young adults’.
- Israelis are killed, while Palestinians ‘lose’ their life.
- The narrative is framed to exclude any injustices conducted before the terrorist attacks of 7 October
Finally, 167 brave journalists have been killed trying to bring the truth of what went on in Gaza with western journalists collectively ignoring their sacrifice.
What will it say about the British government if/when it fails to clearly and firmly condemn the suggested plans?
It will be a moral and legal failure of the highest degree and I fear it will end the world order as we know it. We in the West and specifically the British government will no longer have the moral authority to call out any other atrocity being conducted anywhere in the world. It will be a huge let down for the people of the UK who on the main are on the right side of history on this and other issues.
What can (or should) ordinary people in the UK do to oppose the proposed ethnic cleansing of Gaza?
Lobby your MP. Write to them and make it clear you will not accept this policy. Ask them to condemn President Trump’s statement and call it what it is – the ethnic cleaning of the Palestinian people. Demand the UK immediately recognises the state of Palestine – like 130 other nations. Call on them to end to all arms sales to Israel. And do it today.
People need to tell their representatives, this is completely unacceptable – there will be no peace in the Middle East until the Palestinians have a sustainable state of their own.
‘Gaza is not some piece of real estate’ says Shockat Adam
Reacting to Donald Trump’s overnight comments that the USA should take over Gaza, expel its people and redevelop it as a resort, Shockat Adam, MP for Leicester South said:
“These are absolutely appalling remarks by Donald Trump. It sadly confirms fears of the international community that extreme elements in the Israeli government and Knesset want to ethnically cleanse Gaza – a crime against humanity.
“The UK government needs to condemn his comments in the strongest possible terms, restate its long held view that a two state solution is the way forward for a long term peaceful solution and immediately recognise the state of Palestine – a move supported by 130 countries worldwide.
“Gaza is not some piece of real estate that Trump can simply buy and redevelop. It is the traditional home of millions of Palestinian people who have every right to live there.
“The UK should also make it clear that any attempts by Trump to allow Israel to have sovereignty over the West Bank would be illegal under international law. There will be no peace in the middle east until the Palestinians have a sustainable state of their own.
“The extreme Zionist language coming out of the White House is unacceptable, illegal and extremely dangerous for all the peoples of Israel, Palestine and the wider middle east.”
Featured image via the Canary
