simon

@antonioguterres You were silent when The Islamic Republic in Iran massacred tens of thousands of people just a few weeks ago, you don't get to weigh in on what's happening today.

I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace & security.   All Member States must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the @UN. The Charter clearly prohibits “the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”   I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.   I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. The Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security.

.@AgnesCallamard You're the head of Amnesty International, which was founded to help dissidents defying dictatorships. Why are you refusing to say one word for Iran's peaceful protesters now facing a brutal crackdown, targeted arrests, tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition?

I started the Amnesty Secret Policeman shows and for the first time I feel ashamed of Amnesty

Who has truly stood with the Iranian people? #Iran #جاویدشاه

.@antonioguterres Bravo to your U.N. Human Rights Council for its swift and robust action to support the heroic people of Iran now rising up against their oppressors.

For the last 24 hours, thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest the barbaric Khamenei regime in Iran. @amnesty - the world’s leading “human rights” organisation, hasn’t tweeted a single thing about it. It’s a sham.

Anyone who supports getting more food to people in Gaza—as I do—must also ask tough questions of the UN. This isn't about grainy footage. The UN itself reports that 87% of its 2,010 food trucks in Gaza (85% by tonnage) from May 19–July 29 were "intercepted"—either peacefully by crowds or forcefully by armed actors. That’s not an Israeli claim. That’s a UN admission as per the UN website (UNOPS). Time for real journalistic scrutiny.

Too many politicians treat the world like a student union. Abstract, simplistic and completely disconnected from reality. The world is not a debating club. It is a dangerous place where power matters, where democracy is fragile and where enemies don’t play by the rules. That’s why we need to be clear: supporting Israel is not just right — it is necessary for our own national security. Israelis are at the front line in the fight for the West and for our shared values. First, Iran is a direct threat to the UK and has been for years. Our security services have stopped multiple Iranian terrorist plots and assassination attempts on UK soil. Its ballistic missiles can reach Europe. We should support any ally that seeks to damage Iran’s nuclear programme and eliminate the threat posed by the terror-exporting Revolutionary Guards. Anti-British sentiment is almost as central to the ayatollahs’ deranged ideology as their obsessive hatred of Israel and the United States. They use the term “Little Satan” interchangeably to refer to both the UK and Israel. Iran uses influence through mosques, schools and fake charities to radicalise and corrupt our own population: taking advantage of our democracy to advance its theocracy. Second, Iran and Israel are not moral equivalents. Israel is a vibrant democracy that protects women and minorities and encourages them to vote, speak and dissent. In Iran women are brutalised by a theocratic dictatorship. Their ability to travel and work is restricted. They are beaten for showing their hair. Tortured for asking questions. Executed for demanding freedom. Anyone who can’t see the difference between a liberal democracy and a terrorist regime needs to spend less time on social media and more time understanding reality. When Iran launched its latest barrage of missiles, it didn’t target military installations. It targeted city centres. High rise housing. Hospitals. Civilians. This is a war crime, plain and simple. No excuses. No spin. And still, we have western politicians giving copy-and-paste statements as if this were a playground spat between equal players in a “cycle of violence”. Israel’s response, in contrast, is surgical. It decapitated Iran’s offensive capabilities with extraordinary precision and minimal civilian casualties. Images of holes made by guided bombs in the sides of flats occupied by specific regime operatives are testament to Israel’s values. When Iran attacks, millions of Israelis hide in bomb shelters. When Israel attacks, Iranian dissidents record the impact against regime targets and cheer. Military strategists will be studying this campaign for decades as a model for how to defend your people without losing your moral compass and in compliance with international law. Israel has a right to defend itself. Iran has been openly committed to the destruction of Israel for decades. Through its proxy, Hamas, the regime orchestrated the murder of 1,200 people on October 7 and has said it would do it again. Any democracy facing such an existential threat from a genocidal regime would and must act to defend itself. Most Arab nations understand this; some say it openly. Many ordinary Iranians bitterly oppose their regime which for 46 years has been robbing them of their future. They know that Israel is not the problem. They condemn violence, yes, but they have no time for the delusions of the western left. They’ve had enough of people in Islington pretending to speak for Gaza while doing nothing for peace. But of course, the usual crowd in Britain and beyond rushed to condemn Israel. They ignore the facts. Because it’s not really about Israel — it’s about their own moral posturing. While Israel takes on the arrayed enemies of the West, fighting terrorism on multiple fronts, and facing Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran at once, their so-called allies condemn them. 1/3

Going to be interesting to see how all those who are appalled by Israel “targeting civilians” react to Iran actually targeting civilians. I expect it’s one rule for one, one for another.

So Iran fired about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel - some landed near schools and shopping malls. The UN is silent Amnesty is silent The ICC is silent The ICJ is silent Proof these bodies are not interested in justice or human rights. They are out to delegitimise Israel.

Dear Influencers, Where were your eyes when: • 617,910 killed in Syria 🇸🇾 • 2 million Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps in Xinjiang 🇨🇳 • 150,000 killed in Yemen • 6 million killed in Congo since 1996 • 10,000 Rohingya Muslims killed in Myanmar Where were you?

I'm a left-wing Jew. I've never been to Israel. I've abhorred Netanyahu for years. I've always wanted peace to prevail. And here's how 7/10, yhe war, and the way "peace protestors" have changed the way I see things permanently.... (1)

Finally. We can put this “the ICJ ruled plausible genocide” bullshit to bed. I’ve been arguing this for months, but in case you don’t believe me, here’s the actual President of the ICJ who delivered the ruling: “It didn’t decide that the claim of genocide was plausible”.

Israel *did not* bomb an Iranian consulate. Israel bombed an IRGC headquarters. Stop recycling terrorist talking points.

The @IDF is fighting the Gaza war all wrong.

Today, in between sips of tea, @StephenFry delivered @Channel4’s #AlternativeChristmasMessage. 🫖 “I am Stephen Fry and I am a Jew…Knowing and loving this country as I do, I don’t believe that most Britons are okay living in a society that judges hatred of Jews to be the one acceptable form of racism. So, speak up, stand with us.” Beautiful. Brave. Needed. Thank you Stephen Fry. And if you think that he is exaggerating in any way, search for “Stephen Fry” on 𝕏 right now and see the antisemitic pile-on for yourself.

You can hear the moment @noatishby makes the penny drop in his head.

The extent of destruction in Gaza is horrifying 👇 Sorry for the typo, this is Homs, Syria 🇸🇾, bombed by the Assad regime. Nobody cared. No rage, no ceasefire demand. Just a few hundred thousand civilians killed. Carry on. #NoJewsNoNews

How can there be peace when Hamas are committed to the eradication of Israel? This is an official from Hamas committing to repeat the atrocities from 07/10 again and again.

Free Kurdistan!