SEVEN former Bar Council presidents condemned today the Israeli government’s “disproportionate attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza” while denouncing Hamas for its October 7 incursion.

They said the acts of Hamas do not justify the sustained, collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.

“We unequivocally condemn the Israeli government’s disproportionate attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where civilian lives seem to have been made expendable and children are forced to face the full wrath of a heinous war.”

“We denounce Hamas for the killing and kidnapping of Israeli civilians, but such horrendous acts do not justify the sustained collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.” 

“What is unfolding in real time before our eyes is nothing less than a genocide,” they said.

“We mourn with the rest of the world the needless loss of lives of thousands of civilians, including those of medical and other aid workers, and journalists.”

The statement was signed by Zainur Zakaria, Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari, Yeo Yang Poh, Ambiga Sreenevasan, Ragunath Kesavan, Lim Chee Wee, and Christopher Leong.

The legal experts lauded UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres for his defence of human rights and the humanitarian needs of people subjected to the ravages of war. 

“The UN secretary-general speaks without fear or favour is vital at a time when powerful nations acting with impunity must be held accountable.”

They welcomed the UN general assembly’s adoption of a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” in Gaza.

“While is non-binding resolution, it has moral force and moral clarity at a time when these are most needed. It also serves as a reminder that human rights are equal and inalienable rights that are guaranteed by a body of international law,” they said 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a ceasefire as “surrender to Hamas” as the UN warned not enough aid was coming in to meet “unprecedented humanitarian needs”.

Israeli ground forces fought inside the Gaza Strip and air strikes pounded the besieged Hamas-run Palestinian territory in response to the October 7 attacks – the deadliest in Israel’s history.

The intensifying military operations have sharply heightened fears for the 2.4 million inhabitants of Gaza, where the Hamas-controlled health ministry says more than 8,300 have been killed.

In a briefing to foreign press, Netanyahu said a ceasefire would amount to surrendering to Hamas, whose gunmen killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 230 hostages, according to the latest Israeli figures. – October 31, 2023.