Owen Jones is right (Israel is clear about its intentions in Gaza – world leaders cannot plead ignorance of what is coming, 24 October). There is no excuse for our leaders resorting to the “war on terrorism” rhetoric used wrongly and with terrible consequences after 9/11. Terrorism is a crime and must be treated as such. Wars are between nation states. The attack and kidnappings by Hamas were horrific, and those responsible should be arrested and put on trial. But crime cannot be used under international law as an excuse for collective punishment of innocent Palestinians.
The response to 9/11 by a Labour government not only saw an illegal war in Iraq but also people locked up without charge in Belmarsh prison, and British citizens and residents abandoned for a long time in Guantánamo Bay, where some were tortured. The lessons should have been learned. But the promised public inquiry never happened.
That was not so long ago, and it is just not good enough for our politicians today – some of whom were involved back then – to do the same and then apologise after the event. Where is their courage and their moral fibre?
Louise Christian
Lawyer who previously acted for Guantánamo Bay detainees
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