Andy McDonald resigns from Labour’s Shadow Cabinet<\/h3>\n

A long-serving Labour MP is facing demands to apologise and delete Twitter claims that Israel was responsible for the bombing of Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, after British intelligence concluded the missile was in fact fired from Gaza.<\/p>\n

Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, amplified untrue claims from “the media” who \u201cpointed the finger at the Israeli Air Force\u201d.<\/p>\n

He posted his allegation 14 hours after evidence had already emerged casting significant doubt on Hamas\u2019 claims about who was responsible.<\/p>\n

The MP also cast doubt on the Israeli spokesperson\u2019s denial that the country was behind the attack.<\/p>\n

He said Israel had \u201creleased false and misleading statements in the past\u201d.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Keir Starmer faces crisis as 23 Labour councillors resign over Israel comments<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mr McDonald, a longstanding spokesman in Jeremy Corbyn\u2019s shadow cabinet, added that the \u201ckilling of hundreds of Palestinians in Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital is a war crime, as is the Israeli army\u2019s collective punishment [of] the civilian population of Gaza as a whole\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoliticians around the world must say loud and clear: End the siege on Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr McDonald\u2019s Teesside neighbour, Tory MP Sir Simon Clarke, has now called on him to delete the claims.<\/p>\n

Sir Simon told the Express: \u201cIt was bad enough for Andy McDonald to rush to blame Israel for the tragedy at the Al-Ahli Hospital the morning after it happened, when evidence was already growing that Palestinian militants were to blame\u201d.<\/p>\n

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  \u201cIt is simply untenable for him not to withdraw his comments and delete his tweet now that the British Government has joined the Americans in concluding that a misfiring rocket from within Gaza is almost certainly the cause.<\/p>\n

  \u201cBoth the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition have rightly said that MPs\u2019 words really matter at a time when the situation both in Gaza and here at home is so sensitive.<\/p>\n

  \u201cMr McDonald is flying in the face of those warnings by regurgitating Hamas propaganda as truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

  The Express has also seen comments made by former Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop, who said Mr McDonald should apologise for the comments on October 18.<\/p>\n

  Mr Blenkinsop, who is rumoured to be considering a parliamentary comeback at the next election, said Mr McDonald\u2019s comments were \u201cstirring things up before facts are fully known\u201d, and said his post could face increased abuse and danger as a result of the speculation.<\/p>\n

  He added the thread from the Labour MP was \u201cpure narcissism\u201d and \u201cunbelievably irresponsible\u201d.<\/p>\n

  \u201cAny candidates receiving endorsements from Andy McDonald really should distance themselves from him, especially after his comments yesterday and recent news coverage\u201d.<\/p>\n

  The Express approached Labour and Mr McDonald for comment.<\/p>\n

  Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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