Israeli ambassador says Hamas to blame as she is challenged on deaths of children in Gaza
Israel's ambassador to the UK has insisted children have "never" been targeted in Gaza and said Hamas should be blamed for every death.
Tzipi Hotovely was challenged on the deaths of innocent civilians by Wilfred Frost after two British surgeons, who have worked in Gaza during the Israeli bombardment, filmed video blogs for Sky News.
He asked how many children it is "legitimate and proportionate" to kill, including those being treated in hospital, in order to kill Hamas terrorists.
Ms Hotovely said Israel was "not there to kill anyone" and "never targets civilians", with its attacks complying with international law.
27:55
Dr Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon, who has worked in Gaza hospitals for three separate periods, previously told Sky she felt the number of children coming through the doors was "barbaric".
She said there were "more innocent children, let alone adults, that are dying per Hamas scalp that you see".
Asked about her account, Ms Hotovely said: "We never targeted the children, it's Hamas that needs to be blamed…But they need to blame Hamas for creating this reality for the Palestinian people."
She added: "For every life lost in Gaza, you need to blame Hamas for committing the crimes on 7 October and for committing the war crimes by using people as human shields."
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in the October 7 2023 attack.
The group is still holding 50 hostages, with less than half of them believed to be alive.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 55,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, which has said women and children make up more than half of the dead. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Ms Hotovely said Israel is "not interested in wars", adding: "So we are asking a very simple request from the international community - pressure Hamas to release our hostages and we will have a better condition to get to a ceasefire."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Explosions heard in Qatar as Iranian missiles shot towards US airbase after Tehran vowed revenge for Trump nuke strikes
IRAN launched a salvo of ballistic missiles at Qatar targeting the biggest US military base in the Middle East. Loud explosions were heard in central Doha as air defence systems worked to intercept the missiles launched at Al Udeid air base - home to some 10,000 US army personnel. 3 3 All the Iranian missiles were shot down, it is understood. Footage shared by OSINT accounts appeared to show interceptions by air defence systems. It comes after the US said it expects that Iran could carry out retaliatory attacks targeting American forces in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Qataris have now closed their airspace. They said they reserve the right to respond directly and in accordance with international law. It has also been said that there are no casualties at the US Al Udeid military base in Doha, following Iran's attack on the facility. Tehran repeatedly threatened to strike US military bases in the Middle East following Donald Trump's bombing of its nuclear sites. Qatar is home to the largest US military base in the Middle East – Al Udeid Air Base. The base in the desert outside of Doha serves as the forward HQ for US Central Command. It houses about 10,000 troops and hosts some 40 military aircraft. In total, the US has about 50,000 troops stationed in the Middle East. British military personnel also serve there on rotation. Earlier today, The Sun reported that US and UK embassies in Qatar warned American and British citizens to 'shelter in place until further notice'. Meanwhile, the Israelis carried out their most intense bombing raids in Iran - pounding the Islamic Republic's intelligence HQ, a prison full of dissidents and the Fordow nuke plant for the second time. The IDF blew the gates off the notorious Evin Prison - a pit of torture and executions - hoping to bust out the regime's fierce critics languishing behind the walls. Also targeted were the Basij Headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's "Destruction of Israel" countdown clock and various other security hubs, the IDF said. The Fordow mountain-fortress nuclear site was bombed - barely a day after the Americans pulverised it - with IDF rockets going after the "access routes". Significant damage has likely been caused to the plant and the sensitive machinery it houses by the US's bombing, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. Stay up to date with the latest on Israel vs Iran with The Sun's live blog below...
Sky News
24 minutes ago
- Sky News
Sky News Business Podcast: Markets react to US strikes on Iran
Joining Darren McCaffrey are former secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark, and AJ Bell's Russ Mould.
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Labour MPs show support for activists promoting 'transgender Cinderella' to primary kids
Labour MPs have shown support for an activist group which promotes ' transgender Cinderella' books to primary school children. Pop'n'Olly, which visits classrooms to teach gender ideology, welcomed politicians to a Parliamentary drop-in event which it said was sponsored by Nadia Whittome MP. The gathering included Labour MPs Kim Leadbeater, Paul Davies, Darren Paffey and Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty. These four MPs posed for social media photos in front of the Pop'n'Olly logo with a sign reading: 'I support LGBT + education'. Last night, campaigners condemned their support for the group as 'hugely concerning'. Pop'n'Olly, which describes itself as an 'LGBT+ educational resource', tells children that sex is 'assigned' at birth and gender can be seen as 'a spectrum'. It has also produced a book aimed at primary schools, 'Jamie - A Transgender Cinderella Story', featuring a girl who gets to dress as a 'boy called Jamie' for a ball and win the heart of a princess. Pop'n'Olly distributes this and other books to schools, and claims to have donated a total of 12,000 to 4,000 primaries. After the event, on June 3rd, Mr Davies reposted his photo on his own open Facebook page with the caption: 'Today I showed my support for LGBT+ education. 'I believe that every student deserves to see themselves reflected in what they learn.' However, many of Pop'n'Olly's teaching materials are highly controversial. Among them is a video called 'Gender Explained for Kids', which is marketed as 'family friendly'. It says: 'Most people's gender will be the same as their assigned sex, although this will not be the case for everyone.' It adds that gender 'can be something that someone discovers about themselves as they grow older'. And it says: 'Some people find it useful to think of gender as a spectrum'. The group's training lead, Jack Lynch, who identifies as 'non-binary', wrote last year about speaking to a group of children aged nine to 11 at a primary in Sussex 'about gender identity'. Lynch said a nine-year-old girl said during the session: 'I feel like you feel. I don't fit into a box that everyone else seems to fit into. 'I don't like doing normal girl things. I like football and wearing boys' clothes.' In 2021, Pop'n'Olly celebrated on Instagram after being awarded an 'honorary Mermaids' certificate by the now discredited Mermaids organisation. This month's event was revealed on Facebook where the group tagged in the MPs attending and boasted: 'A MASSIVE thank you to over 20 MPs, ministers and staffers who attended our drop in event in @ukparliament on Tuesday. 'We had so many fantastic conversations, shared valuable information and witnessed such amazing support for LGBT+ inclusive education at primary school! 'We have come away feeling proud, hopefully and renewed in our passion for this incredibly important work. 'A huge thank you to @nadiawhittomemp for sponsoring our event and for her ongoing support for LGBT+ Education.' The event has sparked concern that some Labour MPs may not be attuned to concerns about teaching transgender concepts to young children. Stephanie Davies-Arai of Transgender Trend said: 'Pop'n'Olly is an activist organisation masquerading as an innocent, fun, children's educational resource. 'Their message to little children is that they may have been born 'wrong' and need fixing. 'They introduce doubt into impressionable children's minds – am I a girl or am I a boy? 'No child should be asking this question, as if they have a choice. 'Trans ideology can only cause confusion, doubt and fear for children too young to understand it is not the reality.' She added the transgender Cinderella story could be seen as 'turning a lesbian into a straight boy in order to win the hand of the princess'. 'It is hugely concerning that so many Labour MPs openly support such regressive, sexist and homophobic views,' she said. Parent groups have previously warned gender ideology reinforces old-fashioned stereotypes of 'male' and 'female'. The previous Tory government's guidance for 'gender-questioning children' says schools should not teach 'gender identity' as fact. However, this has been 'under review' since Labour took power last year. Pop'n'Olly is a private company which provides LGBT+ teaching resources, books, staff training and direct child-facing sessions to schools. While the company is not officially sanctioned by the Department for Education (DfE), headteachers are free to invite them or any other education company in to work with their school. Pop'n'Olly was created by Olly Pike, 39, who says he produces 'inclusive videos and children's books that combat homophobia and transphobia', while 'drawing on his background in theatre'. A spokesman for Pop'n'Olly said: 'We are incredibly proud of the work we do at Pop'n'Olly which supports schools, parents and carers in teaching about diversity and inclusion. 'Our work is supported by many thousands of teachers, educators, parents and carers, designed and delivered by education experts, in line with all current legislation and informed by research.' A Government spokesman said: 'Schools have a clear duty to safeguard their pupils – and should make sure children are never taught concepts that they are too young to understand, and never made to feel that not fitting with gender stereotypes means they were born in the wrong body. 'Our review of the Relationship, Sex, and Health Education guidance will put children's safety at its core, making clear that concepts around sex and gender should only be taught in a way that reflects the facts and law on biological sex and gender reassignment.' The MPs did not respond to attempts to contact them, and Labour declined to comment on their behalf.
