Palestinian Children and Israeli Military Detention Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Palestinian Children and Israeli Military Detention

Grahame Morris Excerpts
Wednesday 7th February 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Matthew Offord Portrait Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)
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It is important to provide some context to the issue. Many things have been raised this afternoon, but I shall concentrate on just one. The hon. Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion) raised the case of 17-year-old Ahed Tamimi. We all know what has happened to her now that she has been imprisoned, but I wonder whether hon. Members know what she said on Facebook straight after slapping an Israeli soldier. Out of earshot of the soldier, Ahed turned to the camera and said in Arabic:

“I wish that everybody all over the world would unite, so we can liberate Palestine...Be it stabbings, martyrdom-seeking operations, throwing stones, everyone must do his part and we must unite in order for our message to be heard that we want to liberate Palestine”.

I know what “martyrdom-seeking operations” means, and I am sure many other hon. Members do; that is why she was charged with inciting violence on social media.

Grahame Morris Portrait Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab)
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Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Matthew Offord Portrait Dr Offord
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I will not, at the moment.

I hope that the Minister shares my concern at the fact that a key part of that sad incident has gone largely unreported, and that such sentiments are a product of the hate-filled rhetoric of the Palestinian Authority, rather than being those of a 16-year-old child.