UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Lord Sumption, a former Supreme Court judge labelled Israel’s moves in Gaza as massively unfair and believes there is an arguable case for genocide.
As reported by The Guardian, an ex-UK Supreme Court judge has slammed Israel’s assault on Gaza, stating there are grounds to classify it as genocide.
What did Lord Sumption say about the Israel-Gaza war?
In an interview before his book release, Mr. Sumption stated that while his book focuses on free speech concerns rather than Gaza, he warned that pro-Palestinian views are facing increasing restrictions.
He served on the UK Supreme Court from 2012 to 2018 and was among the prominent signatories of a letter last year, alleging that the British government violated international law by supplying arms to Israel.
While clearing his stance to sign the letter, Mr Sumption stated,
“I thought – and I still think – that the conduct of Israel in Gaza is grossly disproportionate and there’s at least an arguable case that it’s genocidal.”
He added,
“That’s quite a difficult thing to establish but I read the provisional decision of the International Court (of Justice) (ICJ) and it seemed to me that they were saying that that was an arguable proposition.”
Referring to the current situation, Mr Sumption said that preventing genocide is a duty under the convention and agreed that the letter raised valid concerns.
How are pro-Palestinian voices being suppressed in Europe, according to Lord Sumption?
Mr. Sumption said the Palestine-Israel issue is one of the major issues of this era.
He stated that pro-Palestinian supporters have faced significant challenges in European nations, especially in Germany, where government measures have directly aimed at silencing their views.
Ex-court judge argued that the UK is not as restrictive as some European countries, but there is growing pressure to crack down on pro-Palestine protests based on the unspoken assumption that supporting Palestine is wrong.
How does Lord Sumption view the downfall of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss?
According to Lord Sumption, the fall of former Prime Ministers, including Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, revealed the British constitution’s strengths while also exposing the structural issues that made such intervention necessary.
He stated,
“The parliamentary system reacted to the misdeeds of Boris Johnson and the basic idea that the democratic mandate belongs to MPs and that governments depend on a consensus among MPs.”
What does Amnesty International’s research say about genocide in Gaza?
The latest research report of Amnesty International, published in December 2024, disclosed that there is significant evidence available that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in occupied Gaza.
The document “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza” reveals how Israel’s military campaign, launched after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, has operated with complete disregard for accountability.
It concludes, “Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now.”
What did Donald Trump say about Gaza’s control?
Last week, Donald Trump said in a press conference that the U.S. would take control of Gaza after relocating Palestinians to nearby Arab states, which also sparked global concerns. On Monday, Mr Trump repeatedly declared his intention to ‘buy and own’ the Gaza Strip and move its two million residents.
The newly elected president said he might allow Middle Eastern nations to rebuild sections of Gaza, assuring that Palestinian refugees would “live in comfort.”
How did Keir Starmer respond to Gaza’s control?
Keir Starmer stated that Palestinians must be allowed to return home and rebuild. While he did not directly criticize Donald Trump, he expressed support for granting Palestinians the authority to determine their future.