Burak Bir
16 October 2023•Update: 17 October 2023
LONDON
Amid continuing attacks on the Gaza Strip and a cutoff of electricity, water, and food supplies to the enclave, Israel’s ambassador to the UK claimed on Monday that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In an interview with Sky News, Tzipi Hotovely claimed that there is "no humanitarian crisis" in Gaza at a time when Israeli attacks on the strip continue.
Asked about photos that show the humanitarian crisis, Hotovely replied: "Would you expect your government to think about those Nazis committing those crimes?" using a smear to refer to Hamas, the Palestinian group in charge of the Gaza Strip.
"Israel is in charge of the safety of Israelis, Hamas is in charge of the safety of Palestinians," said the ambassador, insisting that there is no humanitarian crisis.
Asked, "So what do you think is happening?" he said: "So blame Hamas, and ask Hamas, why they started those atrocities."
Asked what she thinks about the “collateral damage” done to innocent civilians, she said that "those people created crimes that (are) worse than (terrorist group Daesh) ISIS."
After the interviewer said the US fight against Daesh/ISIS caught over 100,000 civilians in the crossfire, Hotovely said Israel is trying to prevent that.
'Stop using grief and pain to justify causing even more'
The UN and other international bodies and groups, as well as countries, have warned that Israel's attacks on Gaza, along with it ordering a forced evacuation from north to south and cutting off water and electricity, risk pushing the strip into a humanitarian crisis.
The ambassador's remarks sparked criticism on social media, including the British-based Jewish activist group Na'amod saying: "Stop using grief and pain to justify causing even more!"
"We called for the UK government to reject Hotovely's appointment as ambassador a few years ago – now her disregard for basic humanitarian principles are clearer than ever," the group posted on X.
On Thursday, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett erupted at a presenter for Sky News for asking him about the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
Asked about the civilian deaths in Gaza from Israeli attacks, Bennett said Israeli forces do not target civilians but are "fighting Nazis."
"Are you seriously (going to) keep on asking me about Palestinian civilians? What's wrong with you?" he said, following a question on the dire situation in Gaza hospitals.
Ten days into the conflict with Palestinian group Hamas, Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the total population of Gaza – having been displaced, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out, as civilians flee to the south following Israeli warning to evacuate northern areas.
The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to 2,750, including 750 children.
In Israel, 1,300 have been killed.
