The former Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) will
challenge the current Chair of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) at
the General Election.
Kamel Hawwash, who is a Professor in the School of Civil
Engineering at the University of Birmingham, will today announce
his intention to challenge incumbent Member of Parliament at the launch event of
Reliance, a group that will support several candidates at the
General Election.
Professor Hawwash, who is a British Palestinian, stepped down as
Chair of PSC at the recent AGM, resigned from the Labour Party in
October 2023 following comments made by Sir which condoned Israel's use of
collective punishment - an act regarded by courts around the
world as a war crime - by cutting off water and power to
Gazans.
Professor Hawwash, who will be Leader of Reliance, said:
“Keir Starmer's comments condoning Israel's collective punishment
of Gazans were beyond the pale. His unequivocal support for
Netanyahu in the months since - which has seen more than 35,000
Gazans murdered - 70% of which are women and children - has been
horrifying to witness and he must be held accountable.
“Israel's actions in Gaza are nothing short of genocide but,
despite this, and despite the country being hauled before the
ICJ, Starmer continues to ignore the daily atrocities and puff
his chest out as a proud Zionist.
“Steve McCabe has repeatedly failed to stand up for the views of
his constituents over the past two decades, from voting for the
illegal war in Iraq, to abstaining on the welfare bill, to now
speaking out unwaveringly for a pariah state committing daily
atrocities. He has repeatedly refused to meet constituents to
address their concerns on these issues.
“The Labour Party is unrecognisable under and no longer represents the
views of the most vulnerable and downtrodden in society.
“While and continue to be barred from
sitting as Labour MPs, just this week allowed one of the most
right-wing MPs in Britain - - to cross the floor and
represent the Party. That is just the latest insult to millions
of Labour voters who have been lifelong supporters of the Party.
Enough is enough.”
Speaking about the decision to launch a slate of candidates on a
Reliance platform, Professor Hawwash said:
“I cannot stand by while the Labour Party is complicit in the
massacre of Gazans. History will judge Starmer for his role in
the Gazan genocide, but for now we must stand in solidarity with
all Palestinians by challenging the immoral parliamentarians that
put their careers before their consciences by unquestioningly
following their leader and the party whip.
“Now, more than ever before - when you cannot put a food bank
voucher between the main political parties - it is time for
independent candidates that can truly be the voice of their
constituents in Parliament. What's clear from last week's local
and mayoral elections is that there is plenty of support for
independent candidates standing on progressive platforms. In the
middle of a cost of living crisis and global insecurity we need
candidates that genuinely reflect the concerns of their
constituents.”
