- Jan 16, 2011
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As expected, Israel overreacted:
Reuters has a quick snap that there has already been diplomatic reaction to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s words describing Hamas as a liberation group rather than a terrorist organisation. Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini has described the words as “disgusting” and said he will suggest that Italy summons the Turkish ambassador to lodge a protest.
The Hamas attack on southern Israel on 7 October left over 1,400 Israelis dead – chiefly civilians – and Hamas fighters took at least 222 hostages back into Gaza with them. Described as a pogrom by the UK’s prime minister, the targets for the Hamas rampage included a music festival, and led to scenes described by first responders as a massacre.
Israel says it has refused visa to UN official to 'teach them a lesson'
Israel says it has refused a visa to UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths as a result of comments at the UN by secretary-general António Guterres.
Israeli media reports that Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said on army radio:
Israel has called on UN secretary general Guterres to resign after he said that the“appalling attacks” by Hamas against Israel on 7 October cannot justify the “collective punishment of the Palestinian people”, and spoke of “the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza.”Due to his remarks we will refuse to issue visas to UN representatives. We have already refused a visa for under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths. The time has come to teach them a lesson.
Justin Welby accused of ârelegatingâ plight of Palestinian Christians
Anglicans in West Bank say they are ‘utterly perplexed’ by archbishop of Canterbury’s statements on Israel-Hamas war
www.theguardian.com
The letter also said: “We are utterly perplexed by the public statements coming out from your office on the current situation in Palestine. It has become clear to us that our voices as Palestinian Anglicans are not being heard in Canterbury and our interests are being relegated …
“We are afraid that domestic British ecumenical and political considerations are more relevant in your decision-making process than the accurate recognition and implementation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in general, and of the Anglican Palestinian community in particular …
“Our position unequivocally opposes all attacks against civilians regardless of national, ethnic or religious identity and calls for the full implementation of international humanitarian law.
“What we would expect from our church is to fully condemn the systematic denial of our rights and calls to annihilate our people, especially as these are being publicly expressed by the current fascist Israeli government, rather than attempting to create a balance between the oppressed and the oppressor.”