Richard Burden
@RichardBurden27
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Former Labour MP/Shadow Minister. Chair @HWBrum @HealthwatchSol @RemSrebWestMids. @BalfourProject; @LFPME; Fellow @The_IMI. Ex Chair @MedicalAidPal. Own views
Birmingham UK
Joined February 2011
Gaza is a strip of land 25 miles long and 7.5 miles wide at its widest point. All its borders are blockaded. Over 2m people live there. Netanyahu yesterday told civilians to leave before his “mighty vengeance” turns Gaza to rubble. Where are they supposed to go? Into the sea?
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British photojournalist Tom Hurndall died on 13th January 2004. He had been in a coma for 9 months after being shot in the head by an Israeli military sniper as he tried to rescue children from the line of gunfire in Gaza. He will always be remembered. #RIPTomHurndall
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11 April 2003. #OTD 20 years ago 22 year old British photojournalist, Tom Hurndall, was shot in the head by an Israeli army sniper as he rescued Palestinian children from the line of gunfire in Gaza. After 9 months in a coma he died Jan 2004. His memory will never die. 1/3
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It’s 18 years since British photographer, Tom Hurndall, was shot by an Israeli army sniper on 11th April 2003 as he tried to rescue Palestinian children from the line of gunfire in Gaza. Remembering him today and always
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I have just received this message from a doctor at a hospital in Rafah. Israeli forces told him at 11.49 UK time that they have two hours to get out before the hospital is targeted. Rafah is in the far south of Gaza. Please share as widely as possible to stop this outrage
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Remembering British photographer, Tom Hurndall, who died 13 Jan 2004 after having been in a coma for 9 months after being shot in the head by a sniper whilst rescuing children from the line of Israeli military gunfire in Gaza. Thoughts with his family and friends #RIPTomHurndall
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So it seems that the @IDF are only allowing journalists onto their media tours of Shifa hospital on condition that they don’t talk to any Palestinians- doctors, patients or people seeking refuge there after their own homes have been destroyed. Let that sink in.
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This is indeed damning….
This is shocking. New emerging footage of @F1 Abu Dhabi GP containing previously unheard radio. Masi essentially executed the instructions of Jonathan Wheatley (Red Bull) without any second thought over its legality or fairness. This should be sickening listening to any fan.
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“No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited…Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited”.4th Geneva Convention
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I was beginning to think Donald Trump couldn’t get any worse, and now this. For the President of the USA to retweet the outpourings of an extreme race hate outfit like Britain First is beyond appalling and it demeans his office
Trump account retweets anti-Muslim videos
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This year & every year, remembering British photographer, Tom Hurndall, who died 13 Jan 2004 having been in a 9 month coma after being shot in the head by a sniper as he tried to rescue children from the line of Israeli military gunfire in Gaza. Thoughts with his family & friends
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Israel’s demolition of the villages of Khan al Ahmar and Abu Nuwar is a war crime. My Urgent Question at @UKParliament today.
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Remembering British photographer, Tom Hurndall, who died 13 Jan 2004. He had been in a coma for 9 months after being shot in the head by a sniper as he tried to rescue children from the line of Israeli army gunfire in Gaza. Thoughts with his family and friends #RIPTomHurndall
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The blockade of Gaza is illegal under the Geneva Conventions, immoral, and utterly cruel. Yet the only response from UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz is to say the UK backs Israel . It’s beyond grotesque.
Israel banned the entry of fuel. This caused Gaza’s power plant to grind to a halt. Lack of electricity in Gaza is affecting water delivery, sewage treatment, & hospitals etc. People aren’t able to store fruits/veggies/meat coz fridges cant function on 2 or 3 hrs of electricity.
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Remembering Tom Hurndall who died 13 Jan 2004 from head wound from Israeli sniper whilst rescuing children in Gaza http://t.co/4ELrVywUtb.
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MPs who habitually try to excuse Israel’s actions against the Palestinians argued in @ukparliament today that independent investigation means handing key evidence to Israel for safekeeping when their forces are prime suspects. No. Independent means independent. #ShireenAbuAqleh.
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Remembering British photographer, Tom Hurndall, who died 13 Jan 2004 after having been in a coma for 9 months after being shot in the head by a sniper whilst he was trying to rescue children from the line of Israeli military gunfire in Gaza. Thoughts with his family and friends
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If - as looks likely - Parliament rejects both Theresa May’s deal and leaving the EU without a deal, then a people’s vote may yet be the only way to break the logjam. I have set out my thoughts in in @birminghampost and @birminghammail today
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Having shot and killed Palestinian photojournalist, Yasir Murtaja, while he was wearing a vest clearly marked PRESS in Gaza yesterday, does the Israeli army still stand by this description of their live-fire policy that they tweeted and then deleted last week?
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Have I personally been to Shifa hospital? Yes.Have I ever seen evidence of a military base there? No.Have I ever searched under the hospital? No.Do claims of a Hamas base under Shifa override Israel’s legal obligation to respect Shifa hospital as #NotaTarget? No they do not.
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UK Defence Secretary @grantshapps on #R4today just endorsed the Israeli military’s “leave now” order to 1.1 million people in the north of Gaza. It means the UK is complicit in war crime: a crime against humanity. #NotInMyName.
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Israel’s construction of settlements on occupied land is illegal under international law. Pronouncements by the White House to the contrary do not change that reality.
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Horrific news from Gaza today. Respect to the Israelis of @btselem for calling out the actions of Israel’s military so clearly
Israeli soldiers have been shooting at Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza since this morning. At least 10 Palestinians have been killed, including a minor, at least 1,000 wounded. Shooting at unarmed demonstrators is illegal & any command allowing such action is manifestly illegal
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@BarakRavid 1/2 “No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited…Reprisals against protected persons &their property are prohibited”.4th Geneva Convention.
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UK ministers demand accountability for war crimes in other parts of the world so why not in Israel and Palestine? Where is progress in @IntlCrimCourt investigation? #Justicematters to the memory of Tom Hurndall and of the Palestinian and Israeli civilians who continue to die 3/3.
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Tom Hurndall’s killer received an 8 year sentence and was released after just 6. This and the cursory military investigation proceeding it were examples of a culture of impunity in Israel’s use of illegal extra judicial killings that continues today 2/3
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0n April 11 2003, 21 year old British photo-journalist, Tom Hurndall, was shot in the head by an Israeli army sniper as he tried to rescue Palestinan children from the line of gunfire in Gaza. His life and bravery will never be forgotten. #RIPTomHurndall
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Remembering British photographer, Tom Hurndall who, 15 years ago on April 11th 2003, was shot in the head whilst he was trying to save a child from gunfire in Gaza. Thoughts with Tom’s family and friends
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17 years ago today, on 11 April 2003, British photographer Tom Hurndall was shot by an Israeli army sniper as he tried to rescue Palestinan children from gunfire in Gaza. He’ll always be remembered #RIPTomHurndall
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Shireen Abu-Akleh was a US citizen. She was shot not in Israel but in occupied territory. Claiming that her killing is an “internal affair” for Israel speaks volumes about the culture of impunity that is deep rooted in Israel’s government.
BREAKING: MoD Gantz: “The U.S. justice department decision to investigate the death of Shireen Abu Akleh is a grave mistake. I have made it clear to the U.S. that we won’t cooperate with any external investigation & won’t allow any interference in Israel’s internal affairs”.
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Please read this exceptionally powerful article from my colleague @DrRosena. Having also been to Makassad Hospital in Jerusalem, I can confirm the heartbreaking scenes she describes of sick children being separated from their parents because Israel has stopped them leaving Gaza.
As a mother, I can’t imagine how it feels to be separated from your baby for five months while they’re in hospital. I wrote to the Foreign Sec highlighting issues with the permit system for Palestinians. No child should die alone. Me in @Independent:.
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1/2 Internationally respected human rights defenders judge Israel’s govt guilty of Apartheid “from the River to the Sea” . Does @nadhimzahawi really think saying that in UK that makes you a terrorist supporter & liable to arrest?.
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.@jeremycorbyn asks why PM refuses to listen to people who have given their lives to public service. PM replies with sneer. Pattern at #PMQs.
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Netanyahu’s threat to annex occupied Palestinian territory in the Jordan Valley is an assault on international law and the two state solution. Time to stand up for both. Time for the UK Governmemt to implement @UKParliament’s 2014 resolution to recocognise the State of Palestine.
Here's the map of the territory of the Jordan Valley, in the West Bank, that Netanyahu vowed to annex if he wins next week's election (blue: will be annexed to Israel; orange: will remain under Palestinian control)
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Sceptical of Israel’s claim that strike on hospital wasn’t them. Why? 1/4.
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@Fandr351108 This post from @Doylech makes the point. Remember too that Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have no bomb shelters and that the entire area of Gaza is tiny.
And these Hamas hideouts are signposted? Google Maps helpfully tells Palestinian civilians where Hamas fighters are based?.
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As the world awaits the #ICJ decision tomorrow, please remember the devastating testimony delivered in support of South Africa’s case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza
Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh's testimony condemning Israel for genocide will remembered for generations to come 👇.
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Attacking mourners carrying a coffin FFS! The world must speak out against this grotesque behaviour of Israeli forces -and that includes UK Government Ministers. #Justicematters & so does accountability for the murder of Shireen Abu Aqleh. Wherever you are, please add your voice.
"The Israeli army is asking people if they are Christian or Muslim. If you’re Muslim you weren’t allowed in." - @ajimran. Israeli occupation forces are attacking Palestinians during the funeral of killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
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Head of Surgery at Al Shifa hospital has just told me that they have had to cut power to gynaecology and obstetrics and send patients to another hospital to preserve power to neonatal incubators & other intensive care. Power may still run out within hours though #CeasefireNOW.
Gaza’s Shifa hospital in June: I met pathology staff and visited Neonatal Intensive Care & Emergency wards. Now they are all being told by Israel to leave ahead of yet more air strikes and ground invasion. War crimes are unfolding. How can the world just stand by and watch?
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@johnredwood How about people fleeing persecution in their own country and seeking sanctuary in ours too, John?.
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11 April: 21 years since British photojournalist Tom Hurndall was shot by an Israeli sniper while trying to save children from the line of fire in Rafah. His memory calls us all to redouble our efforts to demand an end to Gaza’s agony today. #CeasefireNOW
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In response to @realDonaldTrump Jerusalem announcement, 90 UK Parliamentarians sign call for UK to show leadership to uphold international law, to secure peace based on equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians & to recognise State of Palestine
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While @_LFI delegation of @ukLabour MPs are in the region, maybe they should also consider visiting Masafer Yatta to hear directly from some of the 1000+ Palestinian residents who face eviction from their homes in defiance of international law?
Our delegates also met with Israeli president @Isaac_Herzog at the President’s House in Jerusalem, including passing on a signed gift from Labour leader @Keir_Starmer.
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No excuses. The murder of 3 Israeli teenagers is a crime. Revenge attacks & collective punishment of the Palestinian people are crimes too.
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RIP PC Keith Palmer. For your service and for your sacrifice protecting us, thank you. @metpoliceuk
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1) Will they submit their evidence to international, not just their own,verification? Israeli military investigations have “form” in being cover-ups - eg the shootings of UK photographer Tom Hurndall, of TV journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh and of countless other Palestinians 2/4.
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Israel still failing to substantiate its allegations against the 6 Palestinian NGOs it is suppressing. Ireland and Denmark are courageously standing up for freedom of expression. Not so UK Govt whose Ministers tepidly claim this is just “a matter for the government of Israel”.
+972 and Local Call have obtained a new Israeli report sent to foreign diplomats in a fresh attempt to justify outlawing six Palestinian civil society groups. The document, which is full of unsubstantiated claims, has left Europe's leaders unconvinced.
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4) The point is that, to get to the truth about the horror that has come to Al Ahli hospital, to get life-saving humanitarian aid into Gaza and, most of all, to stop the slaughter and get the hostages back to safety, a ceasefire is now vital 4/4.
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3) Israel has attacked hospitals before. I saw for myself the damage to Gaza’s Wafa hospital from Israeli fire during the 2008 ground attack on Gaza 3/4
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That’s it. Polls have closed. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has worked so hard on our campaign here in B’ham Northfield. You are all amazing. And thanks to the people of Northfield. Win or lose tonight it has been an honour to serve as your MP these 27 years.
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Remembering Tom Hurndall who died 13 Jan 2004 from head wound from Israeli sniper whilst rescuing children in Gaza
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So Israel’s National Security Council is “reviewing” whether to allow Covid vaccines into Gaza. Quite apart from why Gaza people’s access to medicines should require Israel’s permission, what is there to “review”? The vaccines are needed to save lives now
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UK @foreignoffice advice to businesses says trade with Israeli settlements on occupied land involves "economic and legal risks" because of their illegality. UK MPs are asking the UN to publish an international list of businesses colluding with that illegality.
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Lots of allegations by Israel but it sounds like little evidence to back up their claims. And none of it justifies US/UK etc collectively hitting 2m starving Palestinians in responde. The Geneva Convention lists collective punishment as war crime
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Medics are protected persons under international law so the use of live fire agains them is therefore illegal. Time for accountability. UK must back International community telling Israel its forces do not have impunity to commit war crimes
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Sorry Roger but you’re wrong. Nothing more, nothing less, you’re wrong on this.
MP Roger Godsiff tells Anderton Park School protestors"You're right. Nothing more, nothing less, you're right". Asks them to consider now ending the protests, but stresses it's up to them (via @CamBeavanKing )
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Big thank you to all these people and everyone else who came out on #labourdoorstep today working for @UKLabour win in Birmingham Northfield on Thursday. Brilliant effort by all. #VoteLabourDecember12
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2) Airstrikes have already devastated Gaza in the past week, killing and displacing thousands of Palestinian civilians, despite International Humanitarian Law forbidding Israel from targeting civilians 3/4.
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Leadership means understanding your part in social change, not believing you are its personification @HuffPostUKPol
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I am one of those who have been calling for sprinklers to be fitted. Credit to @BhamCityCouncil for this decision
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I have just spoken to one of the doctors at Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah. It has not yet been attacked as the Israeli military threatened yesterday. International pressure has helped keep the hospital standing so far. Thank you all. please keep it up.
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So well deserved. The people of Gaza say Thank You to @jonsnowC4.
From Gaza, we gathered today to say THANK YOU @jonsnowC4. You've been a voice for justice and a friend to Palestine. Your journalism has been marked by honesty and your principled approach has inspired generations of journalists and will be sorely missed at the most needed time♥️
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To everybody tweeting about my being on #bbcqt , can I just say I am not on the programme. It is @RichardBurgon.
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I took these photos inside the neonatal intensive care unit of Gaza’s Shifa hospital in the hospital has announced that they have no more electricity to power the incubators. It is a death sentence for the babies there. Enough. #CeasefireNOW
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MPs should be accountable for their actions and Birmingham Northfield’s MP should certainly be held to account for this vote. In the meantime, the consequence of his vote locally will be that children in his constituency will go hungry. Shameful.
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@IDF So Israel’s military are claiming their tweets are “everything you need to know” about what’s going on in Israel and Gaza. No - we need to know this about the reality of life in Gaza right now and say without ambiguity “Stop”.
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Thank you to the people of Birmingham Northfield for your renewed trust and confidence in re-electing me as your MP
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Respect for @Tobias_Ellwood for his efforts to save life of Police officer today & thanks to all emergency services for brave &selfless work.
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Gaza among most crowded places on earth & blockaded. When Israel tells Gazans to leave homes so they can be hit, where are they meant to go?.
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The killing of four children in Gaza is “irrelevant” according to this Lieutenant Colonel in Israel’s military reserve. There are no words.
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I do hope @RosieisaHolt was watching @krishgm interview with Tory Pensions Minister, Laura Trott MP on @Channel4News this evening. She just wrote the script for Rosie’s next spoof video for her. #C4News.
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This thread from the BBC’s @Faisalislam highlights important loose ends in Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. And they are loose ends that could cost a lot of jobs here on the UK.
Been watching the Level Playing field commitments carefully - Told that they are gone from the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement/ treaty as were part of backstop - but they are still in the Political Declaration, as required for ambition of zero tariff Free Trade agreement. .
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On the couple of occasions I have met @JeremyClarkson, I got the feeling that he was always playing a caricature he had created for himself & that there may be a better person underneath that people rarely saw. The fact that he can write something like this tells me I was wrong
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By threatening to illegally annex illegally-built colonial settlements, Netanyahu declares occupation is permanent & prospect of viable Palestinian state destroyed. Will international community demonstrate that violating international law has consequences?
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Tory Priorities: Own a £1m home? They'll cut your inheritance tax. Live in council house with a "spare" room? They hit you with #BedroomTax.
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After the appalling experience you have been though it was inspirational to hear of your commitment to opposing the politics of hate and to building understanding between people of different communities, backgrounds and faiths. Thank you, Ahmad
Speaking at the conference of @SrebrenicaUK along with @RichardBurdenMP and some other great speakers about the actions to be taken in order to avoid incidents like srebrenica and others happening again. Thanks @ShaidaBibi for the invitation.
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Good that some vaccines have made it into Gaza.But unacceptable that Israel Govt even debated whether to allow it.Remember too this batch will only protect 1,000 of Gaza’s 2m population. As occupying power Israel has legal responsibility to ensure Gaza gets the vaccines it needs.
Israel allows 1,000 Covid vaccines into blockaded Gaza after hold up
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In my last post I asked if, because of the blockade of Gaza, Netanyahu’s “leave now” order to residents before he turns it to rubble means they should go into the sea? In reality, even that is not an option. I filmed this 11 years ago. It is worse today
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Barbaric and inhuman.
Israeli police ran over a Palestinian anti-occupation protester – then fled the scene
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Today I am announcing that I will not seek nomination for election again as MP for Birmingham Northfield. As a Labour member living in the constituency, I am also backing @alex4northfield. My statement here 👇
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108 MPs and members of House of Lords from different parties have written to Boris Johnson urging a "robust response" to Netanyahu's announcement that he will annex the Jordan Valley if re-elected next week. Letter here:
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Imagine if UK launched "surgical" airstrikes on Derry 30 yrs ago with excuse that IRA bombers lived among civilians there #GazaUnderAtack.
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Completely unacceptable that Palestinian diplomats are not routinely provided with the protection that all other counties’ diplomats get as a matter of course in the UK.
🚨🚨 Statement: The State of #Palestine holds the UK government responsible for the safety of the Palestinian ambassador, Mission staff and premises in London and calls for provision of full diplomatic protection
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So much respect for you, Rosena. Sending love. Keep safe @DrRosena.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, MP for Tooting, has travelled to Ukraine to help assist with humanitarian aid in the country.
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Tomorrow (Thurs) I am chairing a briefing with @Caabu @LPHR_Lawyers @DCIPalestine & @savechildrenuk on the impact of Israeli military detention on Palestinian children. Details This new @btselem video shows why we must speak out
Join us tomorrow, 11 Mar at 14:00 for a joint online briefing with @Caabu @DCIPalestine and @savechildrenuk on the impact of the Israeli military detention system on Palestinian children, with two young Palestinian former detainees
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“Reflecting on defeat”: some thoughts today after last night’s night’s result in Birmingham Northfield
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Thank you, everyone, for all your kind messages
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2/2, Aren’t all Palestinians entitled to freedom wherever they live “from the river to the sea”- both by Palestinians citizens of Israel gaining equal rights in practice and by ending the occupation?
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Congratulations to @alex4northfield, @UKLabour candidate for Birmingham Northfield. Looking forward to #LabourGain in my home constituency at the next General Election
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This is the reality of Israel’s 54-year occupation of the West Bank for Palestinians living there. It’s why we must speak out for accountability and - no ifs, no buts - for the occupation to end.
Yesterday settlers attacked a 4 year old Palestinian in the S.Hebron Hills, who is now in hospital with a fractured skull. They smashed windows, threw stones, destroyed cars. So far no one’s been arrested. Imagine what would happen if Palestinians had attacked settlers like this.
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Completely heartbreaking news. I saw the Shifa hospital neonatal unit for myself just a few months ago. It is inhuman and grotesque that these babies should die because Israel denies the hospital access to fuel.
🚨 URGENT UPDATE: Doctors in #Gaza have issued an urgent warning that the lives of 130 premature babies are in imminent danger if fuel does not reach hospitals soon. 1/4
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Very shocked and saddened by video of an inflammatory speech and chants outside a Birmingham school whose only “crime” has been to teach respect for others, irrespective of their sexuality, race, religion, gender identity, age or disability. Birmingham is better than this.
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Well @google? Let's hear from you. How do you justify marketing this 'Bomb #Gaza' game? http://t.co/tyF6CJCjJ0
http://t.co/jRQkevR8km.
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In my last post I asked if, because of the blockade of Gaza, Netanyahu’s “leave now” order to residents before he turns it to rubble means they should go into the sea? In reality, even that is not an option. I filmed this 11 years ago. It is worse today
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