CFI condemns Labour’s “rapid abandonment” of Israel as it endorses controversial ICC move
The Labour Government announced today that it will not pursue the previous Conservative Government’s objection to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) controversial decision to apply for arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
CFI has urged the Government to rethink its position, stating that “Labour’s support for the ICC’s controversial arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is unwise”. The move “risks harming the UK’s crucial relationship with Israel and undermines our credibility as a trusted partner in the peace process”.
The CFI statement continued: “The Conservative Government was right to make clear that there is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democratic state defending its civilians, and the barbaric Hamas terror group which continues to hold hostages and use Gazans as human shields. This follows the Labour Government’s sudden and unconditional resumption of aid to UNRWA, despite its known links to Hamas”.
“Labour’s rapid abandonment of Israel is illogical and it needs a rethink before it inflicts further harm on one of our most trusted allies”, the statement emphasised.
As Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak condemned the “deeply unhelpful” decision by the prosecutor of the ICC to apply for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant as well as Hamas leaders, rejecting the implication of moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
Bodies of five hostages recovered from Gaza humanitarian zone
Israel has recovered the bodies of five hostages killed by Hamas, after the IDF received intelligence that they were being held in a tunnel in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The IDF adjusted the zone ahead of the operation and instructed Palestinian civilians to temporarily evacuate the area.
The bodies of Ravid Katz, Oren Goldin, Maya Goren, Sgt. Kiril Brodski and Staff Sgt. Tomer Yaakov Ahimas were taken back to Israel on Wednesday.
Brodski (19), Ahimas (20), Goldin (33) and Katz (51) were killed on 7th October as they defended their communities in southern Israel from Hamas terrorists, while Goren (56), from Nir Oz, was abducted while preparing to open the kibbutz’s kindergarten for the day.
The IDF said that the tunnel where the bodies were located was 200 metres long and approximately 20 metres deep, with several rooms within it. It took combat engineers several hours to dig down to reach the tunnel.
There are now believed to be 111 hostages held captive in Gaza, including the bodies of 44 people confirmed dead by the IDF. 251 people were abducted on 7th October, with 105 released by Hamas in a temporary truce in November and four released prior. The IDF has rescued seven hostages alive and recovered the bodies of 24 hostages.
Footage of hostage Matan Zangauker, 24, showing him being taken through a street in Gaza on 7th October between two terrorists on a motorbike while onlookers cheer with joy, was published by his mother this week to raise awareness of his ongoing captivity.
Hamas rockets launched from humanitarian zone hit UNRWA school, killing two Palestinians
Two Palestinians were killed when an UNRWA school in Khan Younis was struck by Hamas rockets on Wednesday.
The IDF said that the rockets were launched from the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone towards Israel, falling short and landing on UNRWA’s Al-Qarara school.
International aid organisations confirmed that two civilians were killed and more injured in the strike.
The World Health Organisation and COGAT, Israel’s civilian coordination agency for the West Bank and Gaza, coordinated the transfer of the wounded Palestinians to a field hospital run by the International Medical Corps in central Gaza, according to the IDF.
In Parliament this week…
Shadow Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, Shadow Foreign Minister Alicia Kearns MP, Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin and CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE met with the families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Conservative MP Greg Smith raised concerns about the Labour Government’s resumption of funding to UNRWA, stating that “the level of infiltration by Hamas into UNRWA is well-documented, from UNRWA staff taking part in the pure evil that was the 7 October attack, to UNRWA-funded schools being used to store weapons and harbour terrorists, and to terror infrastructure being found under UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza City”.
Conservative MP Bob Blackman CBE called on the Government to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stating that “Iran represents the biggest threat to peace in the Middle East. It controls the Houthis, who attack British shipping; Hamas, who have caused the war in Gaza; and Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah”. The MP for Harrow East also underlined the need for Israeli hostages in Gaza to be returned and expressed support for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to be built beside Parliament.
In the House of Lords debate on the King’s Speech, CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE and Conservative peers Baroness Altmann CBE, Lord Leigh of Hurley, Lord Blencathra and Lord Robathan highlighted the suffering of hostages in Gaza, expressed concerns over the Labour Government’s renewed funding of UNRWA, and called for IRGC proscription in wide-ranging contributions. Videos are available to watch on our X page.
In his speech, Lord Polak told the House about Guy Gilboa-Dalal, a 22-year-old Israeli held hostage by Hamas since 7th October. Guy’s parents, Merav and Ilan, were present in the Chamber as Lord Polak spoke about their son: “Guy Gilboa-Dalal is a 22 year-old with a deep passion for Japan, with self-taught Japanese and dreams of visiting that country—a dream that was tragically halted on 7 October, when Guy was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists during the Nova music festival”.
Lord Polak said that Merav and Ilan “have not heard from their son since he was kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza. They have had no communication, no updated photographs and no visits from the Red Cross in the 292 days since his capture. Their only sign of his existence came from a rescued hostage, who reported being held in the same room as Guy. This witness described severe physical and mental abuse, and minimal food and water provided by their captors. This scant information is the only source of hope for Guy’s parents, while knowing that their son endures daily abuse, suffering and starvation”.
CFI’s Honorary President called on the Government “to do everything in their power to support the hostage negotiations, and pressurise our friends in Egypt and Qatar, so that Guy and the other 120 hostages do not spend one more night in captivity”.
TRIGGER WARNING: Male rape survivor of Hamas attacks is first to give testimony
A male survivor of the Hamas attacks at the Nova musical festival has said he was raped by terrorists. He is the first male victim to publicly give testimony of sexual assault from 7th October.
The victim, identified only by his first initial, spoke to Israel’s Channel 12 news about the attack.
He said he was caught by Hamas fighters while fleeing from the festival, who belonged to the terror group’s elite Nukhba unit.
“They pin you to the ground, you try to resist, they take off your clothes, laugh at you, humiliate you, spit at you”, he said. “They touched [private] parts, they rape you”.
He added: “There is a circle, [people] laugh, and you don’t know what to do in the moment, whether you should resist or let it pass, how to deal with the situation. There was a very difficult rape. At some point more people arrived and called for them and so they had to stop”.
“It’s a very tough moment. Weakness in the entire body. As if your blood is cheap. They were wildly intoxicated, celebrating, laughing with their pistols, with their knives. You disassociate yourself from the situation, but on the other hand experience it very strongly. Very difficult”, the victim said.
He said he was eventually able to escape with the help of Israeli forces.
There is extensive evidence of Hamas’ deliberate use of violence against women and girls, including rape and gang rape, during the 7th October attacks, as well as testimony from released hostages of sexual assaults in captivity.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warns of Iranian belligerence in landmark Congress speech
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United States this week where he addressed Congress and met with U.S. President Joe Biden, Democratic Presidential nominee and current Vice-President Kamala Harris, and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In his Congress address, the Israeli Prime Minister underscored that “the Middle East is not a clash of civilisations, it is a clash of barbarism and civilisation”. He argued that “victory begins with clarity”, and that “clarity means knowing the difference between good and evil. There are those who choose to stand with evil, with Hamas, and they should be ashamed of themselves”.
“The war could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, but if it doesn’t we will fight until Hamas is defeated and the hostages are home”, Prime Minister Netanyahu added.
“If there are Palestinians in Gaza who are not getting enough food, it is not because Israel is blocking it, but because Hamas is stealing it. For Israel, every civilian death is a tragedy, and for Hamas, it is a strategy, to pressure Israel to end the war and survive. No matter what pressure is brought to bear, I will not allow that to happen”. “’I will not rest until all our loved ones are home. We are actively engaged in efforts to secure their release, some of them right now, and I am sure these efforts will succeed”.
“Like December 7th, 1941, and September 11th, 2001, October 7th is a date that will forever live in infamy”.
Iran, Netanyahu noted, “is behind practically all terrorism in the Middle East”, including through its proxy Hezbollah. Israel is “determined to stop Hezbollah diplomatically, but we will do whatever is necessary to restore security to the northern border”, he declared.
“When Israel prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons that could threaten every American city, we are not protecting ourselves, we are protecting you. Our enemy is your enemy, our fight is your fight, and our victory is your victory. That victory is in sight”.
Netanyahu thanked America for “standing with [Israel] in our hour of need”, and shared hopes for the U.S.-Israel alliance “to counter the growing Iranian threat”. “Israel will always remain America’s indispensable ally, loyal friend, and steadfast partner”.
Hezbollah drone footage of Israeli base published
The Hezbollah terror group has published a new video of footage filmed by drones of the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel.
The video of the airbase, located 50 kilometres from the border with Lebanon, is eight and a half minutes long and includes details of Israeli Air Force (IAF) squadrons, aircraft shelters, ammunition warehouses and air defence systems. The base’s commander was also identified.
Hezbollah has previously published drone footage of Israeli locations, including Haifa’s airport and sea ports, as well as Israeli military sites in the Golan Heights.
Hezbollah drones have also caused damage and fires in northern Israel this week, with the IDF responding with airstrikes at Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
An Israeli soldier was seriously injured by rocket fire in northern Israel on Tuesday, with Hezbollah claiming responsibility for a number of attacks in northern communities.
Israeli athletes arrive in Paris amidst Olympic Games security threats
Israel’s athletes arrived in Paris this week amidst high-security ahead of the Olympic Games. Israel’s 88 athletes will receive 24-hour security throughout the Olympic Games due to the severity of the security threat.
15 Israeli athletes have received threatening messages by email and phone which have threatened a “repeat” of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games – where Palestinian terrorists kidnapped and killed 11 members of the Israeli team.
Some athletes have received invitations to their own funerals, including swimmer Meiron Amir Cheruti. The messages, sent by a group reportedly named the ‘People’s Defense Organization’, reveal their intention to “harm any Israeli presence at the Olympics” and assert that “the Jewish lobby that controls the French Parliament won’t decide anything anymore”. The letter also said that “the fate of the Zionists will be like the fate of the Palestinians in Gaza if the Zionists continue to threaten everyone”, before warning: “If you come, take into account that we intend to repeat the events of Munich 1972”.
The letter also includes a call for the athletes to “prepare for the intifada!”, as well as a threat that they “will be awaiting attack at every moment — in the airport, the hotel, and the streets which belong only to us”. Israeli security officials do not believe that the group exists and was likely created by a bot.
Far-left French parliamentarian Thomas Portes caused controversy recently when he called for Israel to be banned from the Games during an anti-Israel rally in Paris. A record number of Shin Bet security guards will be accompanying the team from Israel, while France has deployed 30,000 police and 20,000 soldiers.
