Lammy says strike can be legally justified if there is a military objective
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has sparked outrage after he told the BBC that an Israeli airstrike on a refugee site in Gaza “can be legally justified” if there is a military objective. The strike, which killed a senior Hamas commander and more than 50 civilians, including children, was condemned by many as a war crime and a violation of international law.
Lammy said that while the bombing was wrong “when it comes to the ethics,” he said “if there is a military objective it can be legally justifiable”. He added that he was not in a position to judge whether there was a military objective or not, and that he supported a two-state solution to the conflict.
Muslim Association of Britain slams Lammy for his comments
The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) said the senior Labour figure should be “ashamed” of himself for his comments, which they described as “utter moral depravity”. The MAB said that Labour has gone from accepting collective punishment and cutting off food, water and fuel to Gaza, to stating that it can be “legally justifiable” to bomb a refugee camp.
The MAB also called on Labour leader Keir Starmer to condemn Lammy’s remarks and to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. Starmer has been criticised for his refusal to back calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East, and for his silence on the human rights violations committed by Israel.
SNP MP Pete Wishart questions what has happened to Labour politicians
SNP MP Pete Wishart also expressed his dismay at Lammy’s comments, asking “what has happened to these Labour politicians?” Wishart said that Lammy’s statement was “beyond belief” and that he should apologise for it.
Wishart said that the SNP stands with the Palestinian people and supports their right to self-determination and statehood. He said that the international community must act urgently to stop the violence and bring about a lasting peace in the region.
Jonathon Shafi says Lammy’s comments reveal an absence of basic humanity
Jonathon Shafi, who runs the Independence Captured newsletter, said on social media that Lammy’s comments were “beyond contempt” and revealed an absence of basic humanity. Shafi said that Lammy was trying to justify the killing of innocent civilians, including children, in a refugee camp.
Shafi said that Lammy’s comments showed how far Labour has moved away from its principles and values, and how out of touch it is with the public opinion. He said that Labour has lost its moral compass and its credibility on foreign policy issues.
Many others express their disappointment with Lammy’s comments
Many other social media users also expressed their disappointment with Lammy’s comments, saying they were “outrageous”, “morally wrong”, and “sickening”. Some users said they were shocked by Lammy’s statement, while others said they were not surprised by it.
Some users also questioned Lammy’s legal reasoning, saying that there is no legal justification for bombing a refugee camp, regardless of whether there is a military objective or not. They said that Lammy was ignoring the principles of proportionality, distinction, and necessity that govern the use of force in armed conflict.
