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The world watched in horror last week as Israeli state forces opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Gaza. Sixty Palestinians were killed during protests opposing the moving of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. More than 2,000 were injured.

Among those killed 8 were children, including an eight-month-old baby who died after massive exposure to tear gas.

An outpouring of anger has followed since, with solidarity demonstrations taking place around the world. The Palestinian flag has been flown above city halls; and Israeli and US embassies have been the site of large protests.

The response from the British political establishment has ranged from silence (or at best circumspect) to outright hostility toward – you guessed it – the Palestinians! As Tweeted by the Director of Labour Friends of Israel, Jennifer Gerber:

“Hamas must accept responsibility for these events. Their successful attempt to hijack peaceful protest as cover to attack Israeli border communities must be condemned by all who seek peace in the Middle East.”

The White House also explicitly blamed Hamas for the violence:

“Hamas is intentionally and cynically provoking this response and as the secretary of state [Mike Pompeo] said, Israel has a right to defend itself.”

Jeremy Corbyn, on the other hand, has been outspoken in calling in opposing the murder of innocent Palestinians. In a post on social media, Corbyn stated:

“We cannot turn a blind eye to such wanton disregard for international law. That is why Labour is committed to reviewing UK arms sales to Israel while these violations continue. “The international community must at last put its collective authority and weight behind achieving a lasting settlement that delivers peace, justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, who have waited so long to achieve their rights.” (Read his full post here.)

Corbyn is quite correct to call into question the active role that Britain has played in providing arms for the Israeli state. In the past two years alone, the British government has approved export of over £230million worth of arms and military technology to Israel.

He is also correct to imply that the international community must be reconstituted in a way that commits it to peace in the region. The international capitalist classes, through their greed and exploitation, have demonstrated time and time again that there can be no lasting solution to the conflict in Middle East on the basis of capitalism – a system that thrives on war, poverty and division.

But though important, a lasting peace will not be brought about by international pressure alone – especially when the Israeli state has such a powerful ally in the US. Nor will sanctions and boycotts be enough to end the conflict.

Late last week, the Solidarity TD (the Irish equivalent of an MP) Paul Murphy, used his position in the Dáil (Irish Parliament) to explain why it is only a united movement of the Palestinian and Israeli working classes that is capable of bringing about a lasting peace: