A GROUP of Labour politicians have been labelled “depraved” by a member of the Scottish Labour executive committee after posing with a top Israeli politician named in South Africa’s genocide case against the country.
Labour MPs Christian Wakeford and Margaret Hodge, as well as baroness Ruth Anderson and former MP Louise Ellman, met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog during a visit to the nation, posting about it on social media on Wednesday.
A severe backlash greeted the post, which came just hours before the beginning of the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Den Haag. Herzog was specifically named in South Africa’s submission to the court.
One part of the 84-page submission reads: “On October 12 2023, President Isaac Herzog made clear that Israel was not distinguishing between militants and civilians in Gaza, stating in a press conference to foreign media — in relation Palestinians in Gaza, over one million of whom are children: ‘It’s an entire nation out there that is responsible. It’s not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware not involved. It’s absolutely not true. … and we will fight until we break their backbone.’"
It goes on: “The Israeli president is one of many Israelis to have handwritten ‘messages’ on bombs to be dropped on Gaza.”
A photograph of Herzog writing “I rely on you” on a bomb which was to be dropped on Gaza went viral on social media late in December. In January, an article appeared in Haaretz, Israel’s paper of record, titled: “An Artillery Shell Signed by Israel's President Could Have Hit a Child in Gaza.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog writing a message on a bomb due to be dropped on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/A0YERB8BWg
— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) December 26, 2023
The signing incident and Herzog's comments suggesting no one in Gaza was innocent of terrorism were raised by many who objected to the Labour politicians’ post, which was put out by the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) group.
LFI wrote: “We’re in Israel for a solidarity mission. Today, we met Israeli president @Isaac_Herzog to express our support for Israel and her people in the aftermath of October 7th. We stand with you.”
Responding, Coll McCail, who sits on Scottish Labour’s ruling executive committee, wrote: “Tomorrow, Israel will appear before the ICJ charged with genocide. Depraved.”
Tomorrow, Israel will appear before the ICJ charged with genocide. Depraved. https://t.co/KpR60Otidj
— Coll McCail (@MccailColl) January 10, 2024
Tayab Ali, a solicitor and the head of international law at Bindmans LLP, said: “This is yesterday – the day before South Africa’s hearing at the ICJ alleging genocide. Labour Friends of Israel travel to Israel to show solidarity.
“Not one word of condemnation for Israel’s alleged war crimes.”
Commentator Owen Jones wrote: “Isaac Herzog is cited as a leading example of genocidal incitement in South Africa’s case against Israel.”
Mark Curtis, a journalist and co-founder of Declassified UK, wrote: “How can anyone at @IndexCensorship go along with their head being involved in this?”
Ruth Anderson, a Labour peer who was involved in the meeting with Herzog, also works as chief executive of Index on Censorship, a London-based organisation campaigning for freedom of expression.
Writer and filmmaker Ahmed Shihab-Eldin said: “The CEO of @IndexCensorship, an NGO protecting journalists, with the head of a state that is systematically assassinating journalists.”
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), more than 70 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the latest onslaught began in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel. The Gazan government puts the figure at more than 100.
Others called on Keir Starmer to act, with one user writing: "Quite remarkable – proudly meeting with a man who was just personally cited in the International Court of Justice for his genocidal language against the people of Gaza.
"History will judge this photo, in particular its timing, incredibly harshly."
The ICJ (above) at Den Haag will hear evidence in South Africa’s case against Israel on January 11 and 12.
A provisional ruling from the United Nations’ highest court is expected within weeks, but a final ruling may take years.
The court could place a measure on Israel telling it to end the onslaught in Gaza. Its rulings are final, but it has no authority to enforce them.
The case will be heard by 15 judges from 15 different nations including the US, Japan, Brazil, France, China, and Russia. One judge from both South Africa and Israel will also hear the case.
Labour has been approached for comment.
