Chris Doyle Profile picture
Commentator on Middle East, international politics & Director of @Caabu Council for Arab-British Understanding. (Views mine alone)
Aug 19, 2024 4 tweets 2 min read
Now we know who paid for Suella Braverman's April visit to Israel. Firstly it was for her and her husband. It cost a massive £27,801.27 for just 4 nights, of which the flights were about £1000. Quite the bill. But who paid? 1/
Image Braverman costs were picked up by the National Jewish Assembly. This is headed by Gary Mond, the former senior vice-president of the Board of Deputies. He resigned because he was reportedly investigated for Islamophobic and far-right comments. 2/ jewishnews.co.uk/board-of-deput…
May 31, 2024 7 tweets 2 min read
Biden's announced plan is similar but different in various respects to what what Hamas accepted back on 6 May but Israel rejected. Both 3 phases. This one is billed as comprehensive - sounds like a workaround for permanent? 1/ 1st phase: Remains 6 weeks. In 6 May plan, Hamas would releases 33 Israeli hostages in return for Israel releasing Palestinians from Israeli jails. New plan - "a number of captives" - no specific number of Palestinians released. Exchange of bodies now in phase one 2/
May 20, 2024 12 tweets 4 min read
UK PM @RishiSunak has described the decision of @KarimKhanQC @IntlCrimCourt about Israeli leaders and war crimes as unhelpful. A case of a politician interfering in a judicial process. But here is one element which is strange... ! 1/ In the past when UK Government Ministers have been confronted with charges Israel has violated international law, they do not deny it, but they have a ready made attempt at an answer. What is this magic response? 2/
May 7, 2024 8 tweets 2 min read
For over 3 months, we have heard international leaders including British call on Israel not to invade Rafah, that it would be unacceptable. Biden said it was a "red line" in March. Hamas accepted a deal - Netanyahu's response was to invade. 1/ Image The British government has been utterly mute. Nothing on Rafah, nothing on the closure of the lifesaving aid entry points ar Rafah and Kerem Shalom, and nothing on the Israeli banning of Al Jazeera 2/ aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/6/…
Apr 22, 2024 10 tweets 3 min read
For over 35 years, I have witnessed UNRWA operations in all 5 areas of operations – Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. I have met with every single UNRWA CG since the early 1990s. My first boss was head of UNRWA operations in Gaza when the first Intifada broke out With @Caabu we have visited UNRWA installations across the region, and saw incredible work, in the toughest of conditions with ever-declining funds.
Apr 7, 2024 17 tweets 4 min read
Six months since 7/10 atrocities carried out by Hamas. Hard to find any positives. Gaza has been pummelled. The ICJ determined plausible grounds Israel is committing genocide – and that was in January. It is worse now. The IPC determined Gaza is on the brink of famine. 1/ Image Israel targeted hospitals, medical centres, schools, universities, mosques, churches, libraries, bakeries, waterworks and much more. It used AI systems to target Palestinians with little human oversight. 2/972mag.com/mass-assassina…
Jan 14, 2024 18 tweets 6 min read
Cameron says Israel has not shown intent to commit genocide. False. Israeli leaders have made genocidal comments ever since 7 October. The UK has not called them out. They are terrifying, even more so given what Israel has and is doing to Palestinians in Gaza. A small selection of a few of the hundreds of quotes follows. No Israeli Minister has been sacked. Many Israeli leaders stated there are no innocent Palestinians in Gaza - Israeli President Herzog: “It’s an entire nation out there that is responsible. This rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved, it’s absolutely not true. They could’ve risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime"
Jun 5, 2023 13 tweets 6 min read
Reflecting on powerful @Caabu @MedicalAidPal @AmnestyUK Parliamentary delegation to West Bank last week. Thanks to Flick Drummond MP, @SeemaMalhotra1, @AnumSNP @Lord_Collins for coming. Vital to see the lived experience of Palestinians living under occupation & discrimination Image In Jerusalem, the rate of demolitions of Palestinian homes is at highest rate in years. Met families in Sheikh Jarrah under threat of forcible eviction. One family had to share their property with settlers. Had little faith that international law would be applied. Image