Gordon Brown: We will not abandon Liverpool
Jan 8 2009 Liverpool Daily Post
Prime Minister Gordon Brown visits Liverpool _320
MPs call on Brown to condemn Gaza "slaughter"
TWO Merseyside MPs have called on Gordon Brown to openly condemn the “slaughter” in Gaza – accusing the Israelis of deliberately targeting innocent civilians.
Peter Kilfoyle (Walton) and Edward O’Hara (Knowsley South) are among 100 MPs putting pressure on the Prime Minister to act after the assault that has killed at least 650 Palestinians.
The MPs have signed a statement that describes the military strikes as an “outrage that the international community must not allow to continue”.
Most notably, it agrees with Israeli human right groups that the targets in Gaza “include also clearly civilian installations” – a charge Israel has repeatedly denied.
The statement also calls for an embargo on UK arms sales to Israel. The Government licensed £20m of military sales in just three months last year, it has been reported.
Mr Kilfoyle told of his anger at both Israel’s actions and the British government’s failure to condemn them, saying: “It’s disgraceful criminal activity by the Israeli state. It’s a senseless slaughter of civilians.”
Meanwhile, British aid agencies condemned Israel’s three-hour ceasefire in Gaza yesterday as completely inadequate.
Eighty lorries carrying supplies and fuel were allowed into the enclave during the temporary pause in fighting, and besieged Palestinians left their homes to look for food.
AROUND 100 people held a vigil in Liverpool city centre yesterday as part of the continuing protests against the Israeli offensive.
It was organised by Liverpool Friends of Palestine, with the support of the Merseyside Stop the War Coalition.
The vigil, in Church Street, saw speeches made, as well as candles lit and the displaying of banners. Leaflets were handed out to passers-by.
Organiser Peter Reilly said: “We held the vigil because people wanted to express frustration over what’s happening.”
