X Users Challenge David Lammy’s Attempt To Clarify Refugee Camp Bombing Remarks

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy made the comments on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday. (Press Association via AP Images)

Users on X thwarted Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s attempt to reframe remarks made on BBC radio Wednesday that Israel’s airstrike on a Gaza refugee camp “can be legally justified,” using Context Annotations to challenge his clarification.

Lammy said: “As I said on Radio 4 Today this morning, it is morally wrong to bomb refugee camps. I am appalled by the civilian deaths at the Jabalia camp. I called on and continue to call on Israel to explain how this conforms to international law and how it qualifies as proportionate.”

Ongoing backlash over the comment, however, continued despite his statement as users utilised the Context Annotations feature to modify his tweet.

The note below his tweet read: “David Lammy’s full comment on BBC Radio 4 was that: ‘It’s wrong to bomb a refugee camp but clearly if there is a military objective it can be legally justifiable. It’s for Israel to explain its actions.’”

Israel claimed the strike on Jabalia refugee camp on 31st October targeted and killed a high-ranking Hamas official. However, it is believed that the attack also resulted in the deaths of over 50 civilians.

In an interview with BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, when questioned about the “proportionate” nature of the strike, Lammy commented, “Israel have said that they’ve killed important Hamas commanders.”

He continued: “And of course they’ve said and reminded the world that Hamas do rely on human shields. Yet, this morning I saw distressing images of a large crater with evident signs of people buried underneath.

“It’s crucial for Israel to clarify how this aligns with the laws of war and its proportionality, as those images are deeply concerning.

He added, “In terms of ethics, bombing a refugee camp seems wrong to me. But if there’s a military objective, it can be legally justifiable. The responsibility lies with Israel to justify its actions.”