UK Palestinians: Gaza facing ethnic cleansing on scale not seen since the Nakba

Palestinians “face an ethnic cleansing on a scale not seen since the 1948 Nakba”, the British Palestinian Committee has said in a statement, while calling on public representatives “to fulfil their duties under international law to ensure the protection of an occupied people” and demand an immediate ceasefire.

“A massive onslaught is underway against our people, with increasing numbers of human rights organisations raising the alarm that what Israel is carrying out is most accurately described as genocidal,” the group said.

Highlighting Israel’s planned “ethnic cleansing in Gaza”, the BPC said Israel told 1.1 million Palestinians in the north of the enclave to move south. “Those who are able to leave know from experience that if they do, they may be prevented from returning to their homes. Many are determined to stay, preferring to face death over a second expulsion as Israel prepares to raze the civic, economic, social, and cultural heart of Gaza to the ground.”

In the UK, it added, “On government orders, public bodies and institutions … have been compelled to honour an occupying power that exercises a regime of apartheid over our people. At the same time, the Palestinian flag, and other symbols of our national identity, along with those citizens who stand with us in common humanity, are defamed and intimidated by politicians, and threatened with criminalisation.

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“It went on to call on authorities “to demand an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the siege to restore electricity, fuel, water, food; and unimpeded humanitarian access in order to protect Palestinian lives, in line with international law.”

“Suspend UK diplomatic and military support to Israel as it perpetuates war crimes and crimes against humanity and implicates the UK government in these atrocities.

“Affirming “our equal rights to participate in public life in this country – to raise our voices and to protest,” it said authorities must ensure “public bodies uphold their legal responsibilities to protect equal participation in democratic and civic space, by defending the rights of Palestinians in Britain and those who stand with our people in a spirit of solidarity and common humanity.”