By our parliamentary correspondent
“We note, Mr Speaker, the fact that a whistleblower working as an armed guard for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has revealed that fellow guards shoot and kill unarmed civilians who do not disperse quickly enough, after food rations have been distributed. Clearly this puts Israel at some remote risk of being, maybe, perchance, implicated in war crimes.
“We also note, Mr Speaker, that the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz has interviewed Israeli soldiers who reveal that they, too, were ordered by their superior officers to shoot at unarmed civilians whose self-discipline around food distribution points leaves much to be desired. It is another thing which some extreme voices in this house have suggested raises the issue, possibly, conceivably, of war crimes.
“We also note, Mr Speaker, that Israel yesterday used a 500lb bomb to destroy a small café on the seafront in Northern Gaza, killing more than thirty people who had been enjoying each others’ convivial company and perhaps a coffee, if one was available. These bombs were never intended for such use, Mr Speaker and I’m sure honourable members will join me in asking for assurances from the Israeli government that this was indeed an accidental use of their foreign-government provided high explosives. We shall also seek assurances that none of their jet bombers were fitted with the parts provided by United Kingdom factories for which legitimate export licences were issues.
“Given what we think is happening in Gaza, there is clearly a possibility – I’ll put it no stronger than that, Mr Speaker – that Israel is perhaps, maybe, drifting towards committing war crimes, probably, I might add, by accident, if it is not more careful in its use of bombs and live ammunition.
“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will tactfully suggest to the Israeli ambassador – Israel is, after all, a key ally of the United Kingdom – that perhaps the Israeli government might find the time to look into these matters sometime in the next few months. The United Kingdom government, therefore, will wait on the deliberations of the Israeli government before we jump to any radical and unwarranted conclusions.
“In the meantime, Mr Speaker, RAF aircraft will continue to fly over Gaza from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, to monitor what is happening, and we give a firm commitment that none of the information we gather will find its way to the Israeli military, although we cannot plan for accidental leaks for which we cannot be held accountable.
“On other matters, this government wish to make it clear, than anyone who breaks into a British military base to paint grafitti onto aircraft is by definition a dangerous terrorist and they will be treated as such. Their organisation will be henceforth banned and its members incarcerated as a menace to civilised society”.
“And thank you for your concern, Mr Speaker, but yes, I do sleep at night”
