Speakers at London conference accuse Western powers of enabling war and rights abuses
Participants at the Peace and Justice Project conference called for arms restrictions on Israel and greater accountability over the Gaza war.
Speakers at a London peace conference criticized Western support for Israel, called for an arms embargo and warned that increased military spending and the destruction of Gaza’s health system were worsening regional and humanitarian crises.
LONDON — Speakers at the fourth annual Peace and Justice Project conference in London accused the United States, Israel and European governments of weakening international law through military support and alleged abuses in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti called for a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and urged institutions to exclude companies linked, in his words, to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Journalist Abby Martin and Palestinian legal researcher Shahd Hammouri said the Gaza conflict had exposed what they described as the failure of Western governments and international institutions to protect civilians and enforce accountability.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said rising military spending was undermining social welfare, while medical professionals warned that Gaza’s damaged health system faces a prolonged recovery. The speakers also linked developments involving Iran, Lebanon, Yemen and the Gulf states to the wider Palestinian issue.