If you talk to the rough sleepers on Cheltenham high street, you will soon realise that homelessness
is not a ‘lifestyle choice’. The latest attack by the Home Secretary Suella Braverman comes on the
back of a litany of extreme statements by a minister who should not be allowed to hold office.
I call on Alex Chalk to stand up against such nonsense coming from his front bench.
Let’s ensure the crisis in Gaza doesn’t fuel hate elsewhere.
I unequivocally condemn the atrocities of the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas. That attack
has not only left thousands of innocent people dead or injured, but it has also led to a rise in hate
and polarised opinion in the region and around the world. I caution anyone against trying to turn the
escalating crisis in Gaza into either a pro-Palestine or pro-Israel issue. It is more complex than that.
We can be anti-terrorist but pro-Palestinian state. We can support the rights of the people of Israel to
live in peace without fear of attack but condemn the behavior of the Israeli government when it breaches
international law. We need to separate the Israeli state from its people as much we separate Hamas from
Palestinians. Few Muslims support the actions of Hamas, and few Jews support the mounting civilian death
toll in Gaza therefore we must also try and keep religion out of the debate.
A state should have the right to defend itself, but not an unconditional right. Cutting off food, water
and fuel to hundreds of thousands of civilians is a war crime and may serve to help grow support for
Hamas within Palestine, making things even worse.
The political rhetoric coming from the UK government and some parts of the media is often not
helpful. Claiming all those taking part in peace marches are promoting hate is nonsense. The vast
majority of people joining the protests are as worried for the Israelis held hostage as they are for the
civilians of Gaza.
The European Commission recently warned anti-Semitism across Europe is at levels not seen since
the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s. Some Jewish communities in the UK are scared to leave their
homes. Now is the time more than ever we need to come together to stand united against terrorism;
united against any state which breaches international law and united against hate in all forms be it
anti-Semitic or anti-Islamic. No ifs, no buts.
The Green Party has called for an immediate end to the violence in Israel and Palestine.
If you have any questions about this article or want to raise any issues with me as your Green Parliamentary Candidate for Cheltenham, you can contact me at directly at daniel.wilson@cheltenham.greenparty.org.uk
