UK suspends British-Nigerian Minister Kate Osamor over Gaza 'genocide' criticism
The United Kingdom's Labour Party has suspended British-Nigerian Minister MP Kate Osamor following her accusation of genocide against Israel on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day. Osamor has since issued an apology for any offense caused by the message distributed to local party members on Friday.
The chief whip suspended her from the parliamentary party and initiated an investigation into the matter following criticism from Jewish groups regarding the remarks.
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) commemorates the six million Jews and other groups who perished during the Holocaust, as well as recent genocides. Following her remarks linking Gaza to the Holocaust, MP Kate Osamor was suspended from the parliamentary party by the chief whip, pending an investigation. Osamor, who represents Edmonton, had shared a photo from a Holocaust Educational Trust event and later apologized for any offense caused.
Various Jewish groups, including the Holocaust Educational Trust, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and the Jewish Leadership Council, criticized her comments. Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds stated that equating the Holocaust to the situation in Gaza was unacceptable.
"The situation in Gaza is undoubtedly a humanitarian catastrophe, and it deserves recognition. However, it's essential to acknowledge the distinct reasons why the Holocaust holds its unique significance," he stated.
Since the commencement of Israel's campaign after the 7 October attacks, over 26,000 Palestinians have lost their lives.
The suspension has been labeled as an "outrageous decision" by Momentum, the left-wing pressure group within the Labour party, in response to a ruling by the United Nations' highest court.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has mandated Israel to implement all necessary measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza, though it refrained from explicitly ordering the cessation of the ongoing war. A final judgment on the primary accusation of genocide is anticipated to be protracted, possibly spanning several years.
The 7 October attacks resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel, with over 100 of the 240 hostages taken to Gaza still in captivity.
Meanwhile, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, Israel's air and ground assaults in the Palestinian territory have claimed the lives of more than 25,000 people.
Labour has called on Israel to adhere to the ICJ's ruling on the war. However, tensions within the party have arisen due to Sir Keir Starmer's stance on Israel, expressing support for its right to defend itself and later advocating for a sustainable ceasefire in the "intolerable" situation.
Osamor, who previously served as the shadow international development secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, is the second Labour MP in a week to apologize for comments regarding the war in Gaza.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Tahir Ali accused Rishi Sunak of having "the blood of thousands of innocent people on his hands" due to his response to the conflict.
The Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hall Green later issued an apology on Twitter, expressing regret "for the manner in which I characterized the prime minister in my question."
A spokesperson for the Labour party deemed his comment "undeniably inappropriate."
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