Arab public figures demand David Lammy apologise for genocide comments
Over 300 prominent Arab public figures have demanded an apology from British Foreign Secretary David Lammy over his statement on Monday that there is no genocide in Gaza because millions of people have not been killed.
An open letter, initiated by the Arab Assembly in Britain, expressed "profound condemnation of Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s recent statements that deny classifying the events in Gaza as genocide, despite the extensive destruction affecting civilians there.
"Mr Lammy's statements not only belittle the severity of the situation but also disregard international law standards, which classify systematic targeting and destruction of civilians and the obstruction of humanitarian aid as clear indicators of genocide intent."
Signatories include Sabah Al-Mukhtar, president of Britain's Arab Lawyers Association, Adnan Hmidan, head of AlArab in the UK and Mohammed Kazbar, vice president of the Muslim Council of Britain.
Cordoba Foundation chairman Anas Al-Tikriti and Firas Abu Hilal, editor-in-chief of the Arabi 21 news outlet, have also signed the letter.
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In parliament on Monday, opposition Conservative MP Nick Timothy urged Lammy to clarify that "there is not a genocide occurring in the Middle East", adding that terminology like "genocide" referring to Gaza was "not appropriate" and was "repeated by protesters and law breakers".
Lammy said in response: "These are, quite properly, legal terms that must be determined by international courts."
He further stated: "I do agree with the honourable gentleman. Those terms were largely used when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the second world war, the Holocaust, and the way that they are used now undermines the seriousness of that term."
His statement appeared to say that the designation of genocide should apply only when millions have been killed - placing his remarks in opposition to official British policy, which recognises that genocides have been committed in Srebrenica and against the Yazidi people in Iraq.
'Concealing the magnitude of the ongoing atrocities'
The open letter states that Lammy's comments "contribute to concealing the magnitude of the ongoing atrocities and, intentionally or not, justify violations of international human rights standards".
It urges the foreign secretary to "immediately retract his statements, acknowledge the true tragedy facing the Palestinian people, and support international efforts to hold Israel accountable".
"We also urge the British government and global leaders to take a decisive stance in support of international law, justice, and the protection of the Palestinian people during this critical time."
This comes after Chris Law, a Scottish National Party MP, accused Lammy on Tuesday of taking a position that "outrageously diminishes and minimises the seriousness of the crime of genocide".
He added that Lammy's statement "reveals blatant contempt for the fundamental rights and the very lives of Palestinians".
"Why is it that you only seem to have a problem with the use of such terms when it comes to what is being perpetrated against the Palestinian people and not others?"
Since the war on Gaza began nearly 13 months ago, Israeli forces have killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and wounded over 100,000. More than 10,000 are missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
At least 17,000 children and nearly 12,000 women are among the deceased, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
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