The Dyfed Pension Fund & Gaza

What on earth have these two got in common? Not a lot you might say, but you would be so wrong. The Dyfed Pension Fund covers Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. If you want to learn more about the Fund you can look up their website.

So where and what is Gaza? Gaza is where the Palestinians live or used to live or try to live.  The Israeli government has been bombing the hell out of Gaza claiming that it is the fault of the terrorist group Hamas. Hamas is not blameless, but they gave Israel the excuse to bomb Gaza without mercy.  The Israelis also, after the 1967 six day war, took over land belonging to the Palestinians; the West bank, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. The Zionists moved in and built settlements all over the place and these were supported by the Israeli government. With all this happening, Hamas grew in strength to fight against the government that was oppressing the Palestinians.

This is a very short summary. There are, however, many Jewish people who do not agree with Israel. The largest organisation in the world is Jewish Voices for Peace. It is made up progressive Jewish anti-Zionists who disagree massively with the government of Israel. The Israeli settlement policies and the occupation of the territories are in breach of international law but the Israeli government continues because nobody will do anything about it.

So now Israel using Hamas as the excuse started a full scale war against the Palestinians.

In the first 17 days of the war, because that is what it is, 3000 Palestinians were killed. Most of the dead were children. Although the war in Gaza has moved off the front pages, the horror of it all continues. We must not get used to the outrage of Gaza. People show indifference because after all it has nothing to do with us. If we think like this we become inhuman. For example a woman lost her child and her husband when their home was bombed. How do you survive emotionally in a harrowing situation like that?

Nesrine Malik, a reporter for the Guardian wrote, “Israel is determined to destroy the Palestinians. It is relentlessly pursuing  the erasure of families, homes, culture and infrastructure.”

Elisabeth Anscombe, the philosopher, wrote, “To kill the innocent as a means to one’s end is murder.” Israel has to be indicted for the murder of children.

Dr. Ramzy Baroud, the editor of the Palestine Chronicle, is researching the imprisonment and torture of Palestinians over the last century. Unfortunately it is still happening today. Israel’s jail system is riddled with terrible abuse of Palestinians. They suffer extreme violence, starvation, and humiliation.

Former detainees talk about severe beatings, sexual violence, refusal of medical care deprivation of basic needs. Women prisoners are refused soap and sanitary products. Israel is  running torture camps which of course they deny. Masses of research has taken place, with interviews, testimonies and so on.

Dr. Baroud says, however, that some things are improving a little because the Palestinians show fortitude in the face of persecution. Public opinion is more pro-Palestinian and Israel is no longer a net asset to the West. He said that we have to continue the voice of Palestinians.

The people of Gaza continue to be bombed, look for food and dig up their dead from the debris. To the Israelis, Palestinian lives are cheap. If we cannot help people in need, who are we?

The French Charity Doctors Without Borders, are dealing with all types of trauma injuries. 60% are children and women. A woman lost her husband, her children, her new born baby and her leg.

An aid worker lost 14 members of his family. They have become beggars. No human being can live like this

If we look now at what other countries are doing, Britain is one of the biggest arms dealers in the world. It and the USA are arming Israel with their military equipment.

Britain has its own companies. These are:

• Airbus SE
• BAE systems
• Northrup Grumman Corp
• Honeywell International

All these provide products, military hardware and weapons essential to Israel and the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. Guess who invests in these companies. Yes , it is our very own Dyfed Pension Fund. There are other Pension Funds who are doing this. They have to start to re-think about ethical investments.

The International Court of Justice states that the Palestinians  have the right to protection from genocide and has asked Israel to halt its offensive. The International Criminal Court has applied an arrest warrant on Prime Minister Netanyahu for committing the crime of apartheid. This is because the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of Gaza city.

We have to continue to keep the war in Gaza at the forefront so that the Palestinians do not die in vain. If we make sure the investment of our Pension funds are taken away from these arms companies, we can at least feel that we are doing our part to stop Israel from continuing with its disgusting genocide and its institutionalised violence and cruelty in its prisons.

The views of the columnist are their own and do not neccessarily represent the views of Red Brand Media.