Key labour figure defends calling out Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza

UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s key ally, John McDonnel, has defended his remarks during a 2012 speech, where he charged the illegal Zionist entity with perpetrating a “genocide” by attacking Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday that it had found a previously unseen video of McDonnel that shows him addressing a pro-Palestinian rally during Israel’s invasion of Gaza in 2012.

“Nobody can speak without expressing some form of solidarity with the people of Gaza as the children are murdered and the bombs are flying from Israel,” McDonnel said during the address.

“I think it’s absolutely critical now that we use every platform we can to expose what is going on, which is effectively an attempt at genocide against the Palestinians,” he added.

Outraged by the report, the Board of Deputies of British Jews demanded the shadow chancellor to apologize for what they called, his “wild claims.”

McDonnel, however, stood by his words and a spokesman for him said the MP “took pride” in what he said at the time.

“John takes pride in and stands by his track record, and will always stand up for the victims of such disproportionate violence,” his spokesman said.

SS