Debate contribution: End Israeli Impunity in Gaza
Debate contribution by Ms Cara Hunter on .
- MLA
- Ms Cara Hunter
- Party at the time
- Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Date
- 24 June 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- End Israeli Impunity in Gaza
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5047669
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I am baffled at the tone used by some across the Chamber. The use of "however" and "but" after we discuss the impact of the bombing, maiming, starvation and slaughter of innocent children is absolutely abhorrent. In the North of Ireland, Northern Ireland or whatever Members wish to call it, we have a profound and innate understand of how conflict has shaped who we are, our families and the place that we call "home". We are aware of trans-generational trauma. We are aware of the true human cost of retaliation. I am dumbfounded at how many in the Chamber boast about the sanctity of life, just not when it applies to innocent Palestinian children. Last year in the House, we highlighted atrocities and condemned Hamas, yet many still did not vote for our motion. The motion took a balanced, nuanced approach, but it was still not supported. This has been a disappointing debate for all the wrong reasons, so let me please return to what matters, which is the important issue of the suffering of the Palestinian people. I thank colleagues to my left for tabling what is an important motion that highlights the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which is a stain on the collective West. Those who have remained silent in the condemnation of Israel or have sought to lessen, deflect attention from or excuse the atrocities perpetrated by the IDF fail not only the innocent people of Gaza but the idea that the West is seriously interested in international law or human rights. Thankfully, however, for the better part of the past two years, people across this island have stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people. From street marches and rallies such as the one that I attended at the weekend in Derry to charity events and student movements in our universities, people across the island have demonstrated time and time again their horror at the war crimes and their solidarity with the people of Palestine, who have suffered immensely through brutality and starvation and are without water or warmth. We cannot continue to ignore that. The British Government should be ashamed. They continue to supply Israel with arms exports that feed the IDF machine. Keir Starmer is unapologetic for doing so, and I find that utterly shameful. Just recently, a video that I watched online showed a child whose limbs had been blown off begging a doctor to kill him, as the rest of his family had been killed. I find it grotesque that any Member of this House or any MP in the moral headquarters of Westminster cannot condemn that level of violence. To them I say this: find a backbone. As children in Gaza struggle to find aid, as they scavenge for food and as they risk life and limb to live one more day, the British Government continue to indulge what can be defined only as a genocide. Either we believe in the importance and sacred nature of international law or we do not. Either we believe that genocide is always wrong or we do not. Either we believe that we have a responsibility to oppose rogue states or we do not. Either we believe that we must support all those facing suffering or we do not.
No. The tragedy of 7 October cannot be overstated. It was horrific and inhumane, but it is not a justification for the bombardment and starving of the innocent people of Palestine ever since. I have been told by many in Westminster that I should not voice my criticisms of the British Government on the issue, as it is above my pay grade. To them, I say this today: Gaza is the greatest moral issue of our time, and I sure as hell will use every opportunity inside and outside this House to highlight the profound, disgraceful suffering that innocent children have faced. Innocent children deserve the ability to be just that and not to have to suffer and starve. Shame on the British Government, who are aiding and abetting the suffering of those innocent children.
678 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.23 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.77).
- Subject area: Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.17 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.07 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.13 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.15 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.36 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.23 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.77 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.15 |
| Adopts it | 0.08 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.52 |
| Immigration, asylum, race, ethnicity and Travellers | 0.13 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.11 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.11 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.06 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:55 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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