‘They’re All Human Beings’: Sky News’ Kay Burley Challenges Foreign Secretary Silence On Gaza

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Sky News Tuesday that Israel has “a legitimate right to a proportionate response” before presenter Kay Burley questioned why he won’t “offer public support” to Gazan civilians under bombardment.

“Israel has been attacked by Hamas,” Cleverly remarked, “and they possess a legitimate right for a measured reaction to ensure their border security and to prevent further such horrendous acts, and we stand by them in their response.”

However, Burley was not satisfied: “I get that, but you didn’t quite address my question. You have a chance now to extend public support to the individuals in Gaza currently under siege – lacking water, electricity, and food.”

The Foreign Secretary countered: “Your question carries the assumption that commenting on one nation mandates a comment on another…”

Burley interjected, “They’re all humans.”

“Absolutely, I’m aware. The reason for our solidarity with Israel’s people is due to the terror acts aimed at murder and abduction, and now there are emerging reports of threats for public executions of the abducted individuals,” Cleverly said.

“The notion of drawing a parallel between Israel’s self-defensive acts and Hamas’s actions is utterly misplaced.”

Burley pushed back: “I’m not implying that, Foreign Secretary… What about the Gazans with no food, electricity, or water. Any words for them?”

Cleverly responded, “Our aim is to reduce loss of lives, and the optimal way to achieve that is by Israel thwarting Hamas’s terror acts as witnessed in recent days.”

The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that 770 Gazans have been killed following Israel’s retaliatory air strikes initiated on Saturday, with around 4,100 reported injured.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the wake of Hamas’ actions has also risen in Israel. On Monday, a spokesperson from the Israeli embassy relayed that around 900 Israelis had been killed by the militants, with the majority being civilians, and as many as 2,500 injured.