Here’s some terrifying statistics:

The USA is providing $3.8 billion per year to Israel (since 2012) and the most modern and deadly weaponry and missiles. The USA has provided more military assistance to Israel than to any other country since World War 2. This includes the most advanced F-16 Fighting Falcon jets.

Over 140 United Nations personnel have been killed by Israel.

Over 100 journalists and editorial staff have been killed by Israel. Several families of journalists have been killed by Israel.

Over 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in bombings including over 9,000 children and over 6,500 women. And each day the numbers increase.

Over 55,000 Palestinians injured many with life-changing injuries.

296 Health workers killed.

Over 8,000 Palestinians missing most still buried under rubble.

1.9 million Gazan Palestinians displaced.

Over 70% of residential and institutional property has been destroyed by Israel.

Over 400 Palestinians killed in occupied West Bank

Over 4,500 Palestinians arrested in occupied West Bank

Two Wrongs…

Schools, churches, hospitals, civil infrastructure and shelters have been bombed by Israel with hospitals close to complete collapse. 2 million Palestinians are being forced into an area of 6 square kilometers (the size of London’s Heathrow airport) by Israel. These locations lack power, food, water, shelter, sanitation and health facilities. Starvation and disease will potentially kill more Palestinians than the Israeli bombing.

The West Bank is also under attack with almost 300 killed including many children and almost 4,000 arrested for as little as peaceful demonstrations and using social media to criticise the Israeli carpet bombing of Gaza. This Israeli controlled area has destroyed roads and homes and blocked road access. Israeli illegal settlers steal more land and kill/injure Palestinian residents.

This is the scenario being accepted by the USA and the UK and a few others as ‘defensive’. It is not and is shameful. The USA has the power and influence to stop this devastating slaughter and destruction but it doesn’t. Instead it adds fuel to the fire by continuing to send substantial amounts of armaments and funding. I’m forced to wonder why Biden takes this stance…

The attacks on Israeli citizens on 7 October was totally wrong and cannot be justified despite decades of maltreatment of Palestinians by Israel. The inhumanity and pain inflicted is beyond my comprehension, and I find it hard to believe that Hamas leaders could have sanctioned these inhumane activities. While the world and Israel is right to condemn these actions in no uncertain terms, Israel’s response is also wrong (and illegal) and I wonder why Israeli citizens seem to be supporting this level of collective punishment, death and destruction. Most of the world, as witnessed by the most recent UN General Council vote, demand a ceasefire while the USA continues to veto and effectively stop the conflict. As long as this slaughter and destruction continues, the less likely that any peaceful outcome will materialise. The more likely the young, who have witnessed such horror, will become the next generation of Israel-haters.

This is the scenario being accepted by the USA, Germany and the UK as ‘defensive’. It is beyond shameful. And while most in other parts of the world stay warm and enjoy Christmas, think of the Palestinian families cowering under plastic sheets and tents in the cold and under the deadly skies.

As we enter 2024 not a single global and local problem has been resolved. Russia continues its illegal and destructive war on Ukraine while keeping Russians in the dark about what’s really happening. The military junta still illegaly rules Myanmar with thousands of its citizins killed and jailed. Hungary is still ruled by a strong supporter of Putin and far right autocrat. Climate change marches on with only a vague global agreement to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The Gaza war rages on with no peace in sight while hostages remaining imprisoned and Gazans suffer death, injury, starvation, illness and homelessness. I could go on and on…

And even at home in the UK the far right still strongly influences the country’s prime minister after having succeeded in leaving the EU and enabling the elevation of Boris Johnson, the country’s most incompetent, dishonest and corrupt leader ever. In addition 13 years of Conservative rule has left the country and most of its citizens in tatters and struggling to perform and live.

I wish I could be more optimistic

And finally…

Which civilised and law-abiding democratic country would punish the victims of crime rather than find and punish the perpetrators? The UK government’s plan and policy of forcibly sending migrants who arrive in small boats across the Channel (regardless of their genuine need to seek a safe and secure home away from persecution and war) thousands of miles away to Rwanda - an African state with a dubious human rights record. In days gone by we all frowned on the USA governmental policy  of rendition (where forcibly people were sent to  countries where interrogation and torture were practiced). What the UK is planning is no less than legalised rendition, and is morally and legally reprehensible.