Red Line Cymru: Wales Must Not Be Complicit
Glenn Page, Amnesty International Cymru
We are witnessing Gaza’s destruction broadcast to the world in real time: families wiped out, civilians targeted, hospitals and infrastructure destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes, starvation used as a weapon of war and militarised aid a deadly trap. These are not accidents – this is genocide.
Last year, Amnesty International published a report that concluded Israel has committed – and is continuing to commit – genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Genocidal acts include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm and deliberately inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction.
Just last month, the UN Commission of Inquiry declared Israel has committed, and continues to commit, genocide in Gaza. Under the Genocide Convention, all states bear a clear and binding legal obligation to prevent and punish genocide. This solemn duty, enshrined in international law, cannot be dismissed or delayed due to
political convenience.
Yet despite the overwhelming evidence, and the urgent need for effective action, the international community is failing to uphold the international laws designed to prevent war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, thereby failing to hold the Israeli authorities accountable.
The Welsh Government is no exception.
What are the Welsh Government’s red lines?
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Welsh Government took immediate and decisive action, issuing a Public Procurement Notice to cut ties with companies linked to the Russian invasion. Why hasn’t similar action been taken against Israel.
Both John Swinney, the Scottish FM, and Michelle O’Neil, the Northern Irish FM, have raised concerns that Palestinians in Gaza are facing genocide and have called on the UK Government to end arms exports to Israel.
Why hasn’t Eluned Morgan done the same?
In February, the Scottish Parliament voted for a review of human rights due diligence processes to ensure public money was being used in compliance with international obligations. Following the vote, the Scottish Government announced a review. That same month, the Welsh Parliament – with the support of the Welsh Government no less – voted for a review of public sector procurement and investments. But no review has taken place. Why not?
The First Minister has previously told the Senedd that “no Welsh Government financial support has been provided to companies in Wales who export arms to Israel since the 7 October attacks.”
However, freedom of information requests by Amnesty International revealed over the summer that a £500,000 grant had been awarded by the Welsh Government to a company that manufactures components for F-35 fighter jets, which are still exported to Israel, primarily through the United States, and which are being used in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Following this disclosure, the Welsh Government now says “no Welsh Government export support funding has been provided to Welsh companies to support the direct sale of armaments to Israel since the start of the war on the 7th of October 2023”
Are we to assume then, that the Welsh Government is content for public money to be used to support companies arming Israel, so long as the support isn’t directly for weapons?
Calls for action
Over the summer, more than a quarter of Senedd members, including Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru MSs, signed a letter to the First Minister calling for urgent action, including:
- Call on the UK Government to implement an arms embargo on Israel
- Implement robust human rights due diligence in all public funding and partnerships.
- Develop a transparent plan to divest Welsh pension funds from companies supplying arms used in the conflict.
These are actions the Welsh Government could choose to take today. Failing to do so undermines international law for everyone.
It isn’t good enough to say that the UK Government is responsible for foreign affairs.
Wales has a voice, and we all have a duty to prevent genocide. Just last month, the Future Generations Commissioner pointed to the Welsh Government’s legal and moral duties, demanding leadership to meet Wales’ global responsibility. The Welsh Government must act now.
Across Wales, thousands of people continue to campaign, protest and make their voices heard loud and clear. In towns and cities, the length and breadth of the country, people are coming together to demand action.
Our voices cannot be ignored.
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Some pertinent questions asked and a very fine well argued opinion article. Thank you. This recent despicable snd inexcusable terrorist attack in Manchester in a place I used to live in the early 90s highlights the hatred that is brewing to a boiling point. We will always have our differences in opinions. But never resort to violence and never death. Death, genocide, suffering and pain. This needs to stop. This needs to be condemned in one voice. Dispute over land and resources need to be resolved now.
I’m sure Amnesty will welcome the news that Hamas’s grip is finally weakening. After all, they are the ones that started the war with the atrocities of 7 October (it’s a shame that the article doesn’t at least acknowledge this and the plight of the hostages etc). With Hamas gone, and an end to Israeli bombing, there is a chance for the international community (including Arab nations) to help the people of Gaza rebuild and pave the way for a wider Palestinian state.
‘that started the war with the atrocities of 7 October ‘
It’s a mistake to pick on a recent date and extrapolate the series of events from that time. Even if it is the Israeli government’s official line.
I thought it started with the settlers and IDF incursions into Jenin in June and July 2023.
You’re making the same mistake.
True.
Sure, there has been trouble in the Middle East for hundreds of years, but there is absolutely no doubt that Gaza would be a happier place if Hamas and its Palestinian supporters hadn’t acted as they did on October 7th. There is also absolutely no doubt that Gaza would be a happier place if Hamas had responded to Israel’s demand for hostages to be returned immediately after October 7th. And no doubt that Gaza would be in better situation if Hamas had given up the civilian hostages it has held for nearly two years, or if it had accepted any… Read more »
The Palestinians would have been much happier without the settlers’ and the IDF’s incursions into Jenin in June and July 2023. Absolutely no doubt those 2 incursions occurred before the October 2023 terrorist event. The Semitic Palestinian civilians would have been much happier if they weren’t being massacred and starved to death by the evil zionist government. And how were Hamas able to even get into zion in October 2023 despite exceptional security and barriers? And why was the funding for Hamas allowed to continue despite their clear stated intentions to destroy zion? Why not let Abbas run Ghazza in… Read more »
It’s naturally easier to pinpoint and blame a single event such as the atrocity of October 7th rather than a process or condition that has been in existence for many years.
The majority of people would probably or would probably become happier if a two state solution came about. That it hasn’t is down to both sides having their ‘from the river to the sea’ zealots.
Palestine blew it when Arafat walked away from a Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem, 96% of the West Bank, 4% of Israel to make up for the 4% [of the West Bank to be annexed for Israeli settlements]. The Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated by a Jewish extremist in Israel over his support for the that peace process. What a mess – it could have been done and dusted then
That’s an excellent point and one that is often forgotten. There is an excellent video of Bill Clinton getting quite emotional about the opportunity that was missed by the Palestinians.
That’s an excellent point and one that is often forgotten. There is an excellent video of Bill Clinton getting quite emotional about the opportunity that was missed by the Palestinians.
Yes, but we are in the present now and it is a bloodbath. The side being blamed is the side being annihilated.