But the Leader of the Opposition doesn't agree with GOB's stance and the actions they have taken. Last month, the UDP stated that its position was condemning Hamas and supporting a two state solution. And today, Shyne Barrow - who has referred to himself as a "friend of Israel" - called the government's actions "extreme," and said that the 11,000 civilians killed in Palestine are a consequence of war. While he did not call for a ceasefire exactly, he did ask PM Netanyahu for more humanitarian pauses.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I do believe that the extreme lengths to which the PUP government has gone is unprecedented and unparalleled and let's just look at Russia. Over 60,000, 70,000 people have died since Russia invaded Ukraine. Ten of thousands of civilians have died, women, children. There was a point where the government of Belize, the PUP government, the Briceno administration said nothing. We actually put out a press release condemning them for not opposing the behavior of Russia."
"Let's look at our Caricom brother, sister nation, Guyana, who is facing existential threats from Venezuela, whereas Caricom condemned, I believe, the wording was very strong, I don't know if they went so far as to condemn, but they vehemently disagreed with the actions of Venezuela, and we heard nothing from the Foreign Minister. So this is obviously in keeping with the extreme bias of this government and whereas I agree with most that there should be pauses for humanitarian relief and aid, I do agree with the request for humanitarian pauses."
"And I would encourage, as a friend of Israel, I would encourage Prime Minister Netanyahu to do more in the name of the humanitarian pauses to ensure that the relief is getting to those who desperately need it. But this war, this is not occupation, this is not the military of Israel just going into Gaza arbitrarily, they were attacked by a terrorist organization."
"I can see the merit in those that say Israel needs to finish the job, at what cost? It is something as a friend of Israel, I please with them that in a fashion of great humanitarianism and great consideration for civilian life. I support that, but I don't support extremisms."
But while Israel has said they are allowing pauses for aid, the Gazans have repeatedly reported that they are not receiving any, and that even though Israel has told them to move to the south, they are still not safe from bombings.
And after more than a month, the situation is Gaza becoming more dire by the second. With no fuel and no electricity, hospitals are now shutting down, and premature babies in the NICU as well as patients in the ICU are at risk of dying.
So today we challenged the Leader of the Opposition on whether this "war" is truly justified, especially since the Palestinians cannot fight back.
Courtney Menzies:
"How can it be a war, you're saying this is the effects of war, how can it be a war when one state has the fourth largest army in the world, and the other state, they have nothing, they have no army, one state controls their electricity, their water, one state is bombing hospitals and refugee camps, one state is forcing them out of their homes, sone state is bombing red crescent ambulances, killing UN workers, killing journalists, we're seeing all these images from Gaza, the people they can't eat, they can't bathe, they can't use the bathroom, they can't even bury their dead because they're in the parking lot at the Al Shifa Hospital and they leave the Al Shifa Hospital because there are tanks and snipers out there waiting to kill them, one state..."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Can I respond? Is it a question or is it commentary?"
Courtney Menzies:
"I am getting to the question. In 1948, we saw the Nakba..."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Now you're going over to something else..."
Courtney Menzies:
"But you spoke about the history as well."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I am saying are you asking me a question or giving commentary, you can just do a commentary on Channel 7."
Courtney Menzies:
"I am getting to the question. How can it be a war when it's so one sided?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Can I answer? The leader of Hamas are worth over 20 billion dollars. Two leaders of Hamas. You can Google it, research it, and they live in Qatar, eat off of marble floors..."
Courtney Menzies:
"Is that not Zionist propaganda? You said we were talking Hamas propaganda, but that's Zionist propaganda."
Courtney Menzies:
"Are they in Gaza?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"They're not in Gaza."
Courtney Menzies:
"So why are they bombing Gaza?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"That is my point so the multibillionaire terrorists that have caused this war are the ones to blame. It is as if you come into my house..."
Courtney Menzies:
"But Israel had killed a number of people before October 7th."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"And there was a number of people killed on the Israeli side before October 7th, it is a conflict that has been happening before I was born."
"So the point I'm trying to make, let us stay away from the propaganda and let us focus, what is it that we want? We want civilians to not be indiscriminately killed."
So far, over 100 UN workers and 50 journalists have been killed in Palestine.
