October 2023 Minutes

There was a long discussion about the dreadful events in IOPT in the last few days. Horror and disgust were expressed regarding the acts of Hamas and there was anxiety about the  implications of the likely response of the current Israeli government for the Palestinians living in Gaza. Chris read out key parts of the AI initial press release https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/israel-opt-civilians-on-both-sides-paying-the-price-of-unprecedented-escalation-in-hostilities-between-israel-and-gaza-as-death-toll-mounts/ :

“We are deeply alarmed by the mounting civilian death tolls in Gaza, Israel and the occupied West Bank and urgently call on all parties to the conflict to abide by international law and make every effort to avoid further civilian bloodshed. Under international humanitarian law all sides in a conflict have a clear obligation to protect the lives of civilians caught up in the hostilities,” said Agnès Callamard Amnesty International’s Secretary General.