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The Labour Party suspended British-Nigerian MP Kate Osamor after she accused Israel of genocide on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day.
Osamor, who represents Edmonton, sparked outrage after claiming in her newsletter that Gaza should be included on the list of "recent genocides." She made the controversial remarks while holding a photo of herself signing the Holocaust Educational Trust's commemorative book in Westminster.
"Tomorrow is Holocaust Memorial Day, to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of others killed under Nazi persecution, and the more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and now Gaza," Osamor stated.
Her remarks were quickly condemned by Jewish organizations such as the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Labour Movement, and the Holocaust Educational Trust.
In response, Labour's Chief Whip has suspended Osamor from the Parliamentary Labour Party while an investigation is conducted. Her claim that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide has been interpreted as highly provocative and a trivialization of the Holocaust's atrocities.
The incident highlights tensions in UK politics surrounding Israeli-Palestinian relations. Osamor's suspension reflects Labour's efforts to reduce antisemitic rhetoric amid an ongoing debate about anti-Jewish sentiment within the party. The case is likely to exacerbate debates about where legitimate criticism of Israel crosses into inappropriate demonization.
She has issued an apology:
Holocaust Memorial Day is a day to remember the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust and the genocides that have occurred since.
— Kate Osamor Labour & Co-op MP for Edmonton (@KateOsamor) January 26, 2024
I apologise for any offence caused by my reference to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza as part of that period of remembrance.
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