Sniper drones killed ALL the medics trying to reach the site Almawasi Massacre Khan Yunis 13.7.2024
(Photo thanks to Dr Mustafa Elmasri, Gaza)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Freedom of Information Request Regarding Medicine Trade with Israel and our NHS
As a multi awarded campaigner/researcher whose husband and brother in law were killed BY the state in the Contaminated Blood Scandal, over the decades I have unearthed and highlighted numerous unethical practices within the NHS as can be seen in my evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry where I was a core participant. Therefore I am always on the alert regarding new and further concerns.
I have recently discovered from a Labour Friends of Israel document which was apparently used at the Labour Party Conference that “Israel firms are the biggest supplier of NHS medicines” which absolutely horrifies me. This information will no doubt cause great distress to many UK citizens including some within our haemophilia community. Many infected and affected Contaminated Blood victims already suffer PTSD, depression and anxiety and this will only cause further trauma to those with moral integrity. As Dr Mads Gilbert (who used to work at Al Shifa hospital in Gaza) has just highlighted, “Israel has now killed 1,000 health care workers in occupied Palestine and Lebanon – with total impunity.” Then there are the many patients and their families slaughtered whilst sheltering in hospitals. The hospital where Palestinian haemophiliacs were treated also came under attack.
Under Freedom of Information, I ask the following questions,
- What is the legal position of trading and continuing these NHS medicine contracts with the racist, apartheid, genocidal state of Israel?
I share the following,
‘It’s not complex, it’s genocide’: Former top UN official on Gaza (Al Jazeera, 16th Feb, 2024)
Israel operates under a climate of absolute impunity, says Craig Mokhiber, former top UN official
Craig Mokhiber, International lawyer and former UN states the following with regard to Israel,
“Zionism is the most extreme form of settler-colonialism, seeking not only to exploit, subjugate or enslave the indigenous people, but to remove them, exterminate them, erase them entirely, to move into their homes, change the names of their villages, and say they never existed.”
And
“Our human rights principles and the imperative of moral consistency require that we always stand against antisemitism, racism, Zionism, xenophobia, white supremacy, apartheid and all related intolerance. Lets the bigots complain. For this, we make no apology. #Equality”
And
Freedom Decree: The UN resolution and the movement to liberate Palestine (Mondoweiss, September 9th, 2024)
The recent UN General Assembly vote on the illegality of the Israeli occupation shows Israeli impunity is no longer guaranteed and the foundations of Israeli settler-colonialism and apartheid have begun to crumble.
Quote,
“Equally important are the demands placed on all other states by the resolution and by the ICJ findings on which it is based.
The resolution, drawing directly from the ICJ opinion, affirmed that all countries are legally obliged to cease any recognition of or support for the Israeli settler-colonial project in the occupied territory, to work to liberate the Palestinian people and to end Israel’s racial segregation and apartheid, to ban any products from the settlements, to sanction settlers and others involved in Israel’s occupation, and to cut off all military, diplomatic, economic, commercial, financial, investment, trade, political, and legal relations with the Israeli occupation.”
- Given this recent resolution, what plans has the UK government to end its NHS contracts with Israel and find another provider of medicines?
I would be grateful if you could answer my 2 questions and send me the relevant legal advice. In case of it being a costly FOI request, please send a basic summary and the relevant legal links.
Today is Oct 7th, 2024 one year on from the Hamas attack on Israel. As someone that has campaigned on Palestinian rights for many years, from the evidence I have collected from Palestinian doctors, journalists, human rights advocates, ordinary civilians, I can say very clearly that this did not start on Oct 7th 2023 but was a response to decades of occupation and oppression which I condemn in the strongest terms. Israel is a danger not only to Palestinians but to its own Israeli citizens.
To quote UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese,
“We would not be here today, with unrestrained hubris in full display, had Israel, in 76 years of history, been held accountable at least once. Not once has Israel faced the consequences of its wrongdoings.”
Please acknowledge receipt.
With thanks
Yours sincerely
Carol Anne Grayson
(Address and Telephone number supplied)
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She was a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.
