Member of Knesset: Gaza war part of immoral electoral campaign

A Palestinian member of the Israeli parliament, Sami Abu Shehadeh, has slammed the Israeli military operation in Gaza as part of an election campaign by caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz. 

“Israel’s latest aggression in Gaza shows the will of Lapid and Gantz and their [governing] coalition to do anything to stay in power, including the killing of a 5-year-old girl. This new war crime is part of an immoral electoral campaign to show they can be as criminal as Benjamin Netanyahu," Shehadeh told Middle East Eye, referring to the leader of the opposition, who led three military campaigns against Gaza during his time as prime minister. 

"The Palestinian people are in urgent need of international protection. The Israeli government has increased its attacks and crimes in Palestine, and this isn’t only about a particular faction: their attacks go from human rights organisations to the families of Sheikh Jarrah," Shehadeh, a lawmaker with the Joint List, added.
 
"Who will stop these war crimes? The international community keeps rewarding the Israeli occupation in a way that apartheid gets deeper. But it isn’t irreversible: we shall continue struggling for justice, freedom and equality, which is the only way to achieve a lasting peace."