As I watch world events and local UK politics I am forced to wonder if things can get better… I just don’t see it.

Middle East

Despite (rather timid) threats from the USA, international court investigations and United Nations resolutions, Israel continues to use its world-leading defensive and offensive capabilities to destroy, injure and slaughter. And it goes about its illegal, evil work unhindered despite international efforts to agree a ceasefire (temporary or permanent). The world seems to believe every Israeli PR declaration while ignoring their crimes (such as assassinations on foreign soil).

Palestinians are experiencing the most devastating suffering which also includes disease, starvation and widespread social infrastructure destruction. The statistics and misery are beyond comprehension: in just 12 months 43,000 killed (including 15,000 children); 120,000 injured (many seriously); thousands still buried under rubble, 70% of built infrastructure destroyed (including homes, churches, hospitals and schools), virtually the total population of 2 million Palestinians homeless.

Supplies of food, water, power and medical requirements have been denied by Israel with patients dying due to the inability to provide adequate treatment. All this translates into collective punishment of innocent people for the 7 October catastrophe , and is therefore illegal. It is beyond belief that the people who suffered the Nazi holocaust could today be responsible for perpetrating such misery.

The USA (and others) could have stopped the slaughter with a halt in supplying armaments but instead continued to supply the means to continue and increase the killing and destruction which now has spread to Lebanon and the West Bank. The USA Democratic administration could now suffer at the polls, due to its stance, in the presidential election allowing the criminal Republican candidate Trump to cause more disruption to the world order. We will all suffer.

Israel’s leadership has delayed any ceasefire agreement (and therefore the release of hostages) in the hope that a friendly Trump will win. I suspect this is doomed to failure as the USA awakens to the global threats that will follow in Trump’s trail. At the same time, Israel has ensured that the two-state solution is dead and their own security will continue to be tenuous with the hate and misery Israel has generated amongst Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. In addition, any agreements between Israel and the Arab states will no longer be possible. Everyone loses.