Cherie Blair says she is ‘ashamed’ of Hamas atrocity deniers
Tony Blair's wife was speaking at a Westminster event recalling the horror's of Oct 7 hosted by Sheryl Sandberg, ex- chief operating officer of Meta,
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Cherie Blair KC has told an event held in Westminster she feels “ashamed” that people in this country have refused to accept atrocities committed by Hamas, including rape, in Israel in the October 7th atrocity.
Speaking briefly at an event hosted by Sheryl Sandberg the former chief operating officer of Meta, in a House of Lords committee room, Tony Blair’s barrister wife added:”‘People don’t want to hear that this is happening because it interferes with the narrative of the good guys and the bad guys.
“Life isn’t just good or bad.”
Blair also said she had been “humbled” to listen to speeches by Shari Mendes, a volunteer who helped look after the bodies of female IDF soldiers after the Hamas massacre and from Diane Orentlicher, Professor of International Law at the American University.
She also told Wednesday’s event, hosted by the Labour peer Lord Mendelsohn, that it was “not right” that members of the Jewish community, whether “practising or non-practising” had been left “walking around frightened.”
Opening the event Sandberg said:”If we can’t agree that rape is wrong; that rape is not resistance, that rape is not freedom fighting – then the question becomes not what is happening in the Middle East but what is happening to our humanity?”
Mendes, an Orthodox volunteer, told of the horror of seeing “systematic genital mutilation” as she watched over the dead bodies of those murdered by Hamas terrorists to ensure, and witnssed many of the forensic tests taking place.
In a graphic account Mendes recalled witnessing bodies without limbs, and some so badly they burnt they were little more than ashes as a result of the terrorist’s massacre.
The Conservative MP Nicola Richards and Labour’s Alex Davies-Jones also spoke of the need for continuing publicity on the appalling acts carried out on women, in the midst of widespread scepticism and denial.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
