Jeremy Corbyn Tells Jacobin: Israel Must End the Siege of Gaza
Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke to Jacobin about the fight for a Palestine free from occupation and why the Biden administration needs to end its military support for Israel.
Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the Palestine protest in Hyde Park on May 22, 2021. Nearly 200,000 protesters marched through Central London in support of Palestine. (Vuk Valcic / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
On Friday, the declaration of a ceasefire brought a halt to the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip. But the pause in violence does not mean an end to Palestinians’ suffering. As well as killing 248 people, the Israeli jets destroyed essential infrastructure in Gaza, hitting hospitals as well as the electricity and water supply to this densely populated area, and Gaza continues to be blockaded on all sides. Over the weekend, Israeli forces have maintained a siege of Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah district, and settlers are continuing to attack the Arab population.
The recent weeks of Israeli attacks brought massive resistance by Palestinians, including a general strike across historic Palestine last Tuesday, as well as solidarity demonstrations around the world. Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed both the huge rallies in London, each of which involved over a hundred thousand people. On Monday, he spoke to Jacobin’s David Broder about the ongoing displacement of the Palestinians, the international solidarity movement, and the need to stop arms sales to Israel.
David Broder
At the London rally on Saturday, you said we need to take the chance to ensure the ceasefire is more than just a brief halt in the cycle of violence, before we’re out in the streets again protesting. What can be done to make that happen?
Jeremy Corbyn
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