By saying that using the word genocide about Gaza 'undermines the seriousness of that term', the foreign secretary leaves the impression the UK would not support any ICJ ruling

Nick Timothy, a Conservative MP, asked Lammy to clarify that “there is not a genocide occurring in the Middle East”, adding that words like “genocide” in connection with Gaza were “not appropriate” and “repeated by protesters and lawbreakers”.

Lammy’s answer began well: “These are, quite properly, legal terms that must be determined by international courts.”

Lammy might have noted that experts, such as the Israeli scholar Omer Bartov and the Lemkin Institute, founded by Raphael Lemkin, who in 1942 invented the term genocide, have already described Israel’s action in Gaza as exactly that. Neither can remotely be described as protesters or lawbreakers.

Instead, Lammy got chummy with Timothy. This should not come as a surprise since Keir Starmer’s Labour has a habit of siding with Tories rather than its own MPs over Gaza.

“I do agree with the honourable gentleman,” said Lammy, before redefining the term genocide in a way that no expert would recognise, let alone accept. The word, the foreign secretary told the House of Commons, was “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”.

  • Jackthelad@lemmy.worldEnglish
    317·
    2 months ago

    Because there isn’t a genocide.

    It’s trendy to think there is (because it’s the pesky Jews), but there isn’t.

    • streetfestival@lemmy.caEnglish
      14·
      2 months ago

      Have you considered immigrating to occupied Palestine then? Useful reminder, since you seem confused: anti-genocide ≠ anti-semitism

      • Jackthelad@lemmy.worldEnglish
        114·
        2 months ago

        Have you considered immigrating to occupied Palestine then?

        Lol. What kind of argument is that? I don’t want to move to the USA either. Does that mean a genocide is ongoing there?

        Useful reminder, since you seem confused: anti-genocide ≠ anti-semitism

        No confusion here. But there is no genocide. And if Israel were hoping for a genocide, they’re not really doing a very good job of it, are they?

    • triplenadir@lemmygrad.ml
      5·
      2 months ago

      2-5% of the population of Gaza has been killed in the last year, close to the entire population is homeless, Israeli military leaders are openly saying, in English, that their goal is for all the Palestinians to leave to other countries.

      What definition of genocide are you using where the current situation does not count?

    • geneva_convenienceOP
      3·
      2 months ago

      Lammy might have noted that experts, such as the Israeli scholar Omer Bartov and the Lemkin Institute, founded by Raphael Lemkin, who in 1942 invented the term genocide have already described Israel’s action in Gaza as exactly that.