The massive protests against the Israeli attack on Gaza all over the UK, coupled with the resignation of the Conservative foreign office minister Sayeeda Warsi in protest at the Government's policy on Palestine, may have finally helped to bring about a shift in opinion among politicians.
It's too early to say, but MPs were queuing up to criticise Israel after the troops moved into Gaza in July, no doubt encouraged by hundreds - and in some cases over a thousand emails they had received. For some MPs it was the first time they had voiced any criticism of Israel.
Martin LintonPalestine Briefing
Politicians are still not as sympathetic to the Palestinians as public opinion, but they are beginning to catch up - and Baroness Warsi's devastating attack of the Government's "morally indefensible" position on Gaza and on the whole Middle East peace process has prompted more Conservative MPs to make their criticisms of Israel public.
But there are still many who have yet to utter a word of criticism of the Israelis - even after the events of the last few weeks. They will have another opportunity to table questions on the Gaza crisis at International Development questions on September 3rd and there may also be a statement or an urgent question.
There is an Emergency Lobby of Parliament about Gaza on Tuesday September 9th when hundreds of people are expected to come to the Commons to lobby their MPs. You can arrange a meeting with your MP here: http://act.palestinecampaign.org/lobby/Gazalobby
The number of Palestinians killed is already over 2,000 and the number injured is over 10,000. According to the UN figures, 86% of known Palestine fatalities are civilians whereas only 4% of the Israeli fatalities are civilians - contradicting Israeli claims that they have a "moral" army and accurately targeted weapons. Over 450 of the Palestinians fatalities were children and more than 3,000 Palestinian children are injured.
Two UN agencies are issuing daily updates on the latest situation in Gaza. The figures below are from the latest dispatches from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Relief & Works Agency - quoted in greater detail below.
More up-to-date figures can be obtained from
Martin LintonPalestine Briefing
