Member's statement: Israel: Visit

Member's statement by Dr Steve Aiken OBE on 3 November 2025.

MLA

Dr Steve Aiken OBE

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

3 November 2025

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Israel: Visit

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5212813

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Last week, along with several colleagues, I visited Israel. As a declaration of interest, the visit was paid for by the Israeli embassy in London. I thank all those whom we met: those of the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Bahá'í and Druze faiths or of no faith; and those who consider themselves to be Israeli, Palestinian or Druze. The many people whom we talked to all mentioned the trauma and enormous suffering that happened on 7 October 2023 and the impact that that and the subsequent war are having on their lives. They all want a just and, hopefully, lasting peace. The testimony that we heard directly from the innocent victims was in many, if not all, cases harrowing — so harrowing that, even as a military veteran, I find it hard to comprehend. The abuse, torture, sexual mutilation and violence and the pure brutality that occurred on 7 October are unfathomable. Far from being a victory to the Palestinian resistance, it was a horrific example of what I can only describe as pure, unadulterated evil. There was no attempt to hide what they did; in fact, they livestreamed it. Some of the greatest horrors occurred at Kibbutz Nir Oz. That is, in the saddest way, ironic because it was known across Israel as the "peace kibbutz", where the residents went out of their way to help and support their Palestinian neighbours. That is where actual genocide was committed. Rita Lifschitz, a resident of the kibbutz, guided us around the burnt-out buildings. She walked us through the homes where the residents, many of whom were elderly or young, were murdered. We then stopped outside what remained of the home of the Bibas family: husband, Yarden; wife, Shiri; Ariel, aged four; and Kfir, aged 10 months. The light was dropping as we gathered close to see where the shooting and grenades had left their mark. Outside, there was a washing machine and dryer with baby and children's clothes still in it. Beside it were children's toys, including a plastic house and swing. I have exactly the same toys in my garage for my children and grandkids. Yarden eventually came home, severely traumatised. Kfir, at the age of 10 months, was strangled in front of Shiri, and Ariel was murdered shortly thereafter. It is known from forensic evidence and Hamas's sick records that Shiri was alive to witness that. She was then murdered and mutilated, although it is uncertain whether all the mutilation was carried out pre- or post-mortem. They were murdered that day, along with thousands of others, just because they were Jews. Everyone whom we met desired peace, but how do we make peace with people whose mentality is such that they sadistically strangle a child in front of their mother? The sad fact is that, on 7 October, the words "never again" became "now". Shalom.

475 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:46 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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