Hamas Shows No Indication of Adhering to Ceasefire, Cleverly Insinuates

The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, stated that there are no signs that Hamas will comply with calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. He made this remark as the Israeli military entered Gaza 20 days after Hamas initiated the war with missile and ground attacks, resulting in the death of 1,400 people, predominantly civilians. Additionally, tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters participated in the “national march for Palestine” on Saturday.

According to Mr. Cleverly, it is possible to support the Palestinian people while condemning Hamas. He alerted protesters to be cautious of disinformation and manipulation, particularly from a small minority with negative motives. He expressed concern about Hamas’ lack of response to calls for a ceasefire.

On Saturday, Tel Aviv’s military spokesman stated that infantry and armored vehicles were supported by massive air and sea strikes, indicating a possible step toward a full-scale invasion of Gaza. Israel has also disrupted communication and imposed a blackout of information, isolating the 2.3 million people in besieged Gaza from the outside world. UK politicians are increasingly calling for a ceasefire as the death toll rises in Palestine. However, Mr. Cleverly stated that calls for a ceasefire alone will not be effective in resolving the situation and highlighted the UK’s efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid and secure the release of hostages and British nationals from Gaza.

Despite the demand for a ceasefire, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have supported humanitarian “pauses” for aid and the evacuation of individuals but have not explicitly called for a ceasefire. However, several Labour councillors and political figures have urged Sir Keir to demand an immediate ceasefire. Disagreements within the Labour Party have led to resignations among councillors.

Cleverly Warns of ‘Disinformation and Manipulation’

Mr. Cleverly cautioned pro-Palestinian protesters about the risk of disinformation, manipulation, and attempts by foreign actors to hijack the demonstrations. He emphasized the importance of supporting the Palestinian people while condemning Hamas. He urged everyone involved to be aware of disinformation and manipulation.