Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle on Zahrani - Tyre Highway.
Israeli media: Israeli Prime Minister's Office: The security cabinet has approved Netanyahu's proposal on Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone bombed a car in the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: An Israeli raid targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Qatrani, Jezzine District
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a raid targeting the vicinity of the Burguz area
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the al-Mahmoudiyah area

Advocacy group slammed for calling Gaza starvation a fix for obesity

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: New websites
  • 11 May 2025 08:31
  • 5 Shares
4 Min Read

UK Lawyers for Israel faces backlash after suggesting Gaza’s war-driven weight loss could raise life expectancy, amid famine and a soaring death toll.

Listen
  • x
  • UK Lawyers for Israel under fire over Gaza obesity remarks
    Palestinians struggle to obtain donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)

A UK-based advocacy group for "Israel" has come under fire after suggesting that a reduction in obesity due to the ongoing war on Gaza could lead to increased life expectancy in the besieged Palestinian territory, The Guardian reported.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) made the claim amid widespread warnings of famine and a deepening humanitarian crisis as the Israeli war and blockade on humanitarian aid in the enclave continue.

The remarks, made by UKLFI’s chief executive Jonathan Turner, were part of a letter opposing a motion set to be debated at the Co-operative Group’s annual general meeting.

The motion called for the retailer to cease selling Israeli products. Turner criticized the motion’s reference to a Lancet-published estimate of 186,000 potential deaths in Gaza, calling it “totally false and misleading.”

In his letter, Turner argued that “the [Lancet] letter also ignored factors that may increase average life expectancy in Gaza, bearing in mind that one of the biggest health issues in Gaza prior to the current war was obesity.”

Read more: Stop the genocide or witness end of life in Gaza: UN experts warn

Outrage from pro-Palestine groups over 'sickening' remarks

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) condemned the statement as “sickening". Its director, Ben Jamal, said, “As children in the Gaza Strip face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death, the suggestion by the head of UK Lawyers for Israel that they might benefit from weight loss is utterly sickening."

"These repulsive comments illustrate exactly what it means to be ‘for Israel’ and how low its apologists are prepared to sink in their attempts to justify genocide in Gaza," he pointed out.

Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), also denounced the remarks, stating mockingly on X, “How very kind of Israel to put 2.3 million Palestinians on an enforced diet to improve their obesity levels.”

Related News

Australian FM warns 'Israel' against Gaza occupation

'Israel' threatens to end UK security ties if Palestine recognized

How very kind of Israel to put 2.3 million Palestinians on an enforced diet to improve their obesity levels. That such an atrocious view, devoid of any factual basis or legal standing can be aired is just incredible. Such extremism should not be platformed. https://t.co/ty05KBsytZ

— Chris Doyle (@Doylech) May 9, 2025

Confectionery and cigarettes

Turner’s comments were part of UKLFI’s argument against citing the Lancet letter, which projected the death toll from "Israel’s" ongoing war on Gaza could eventually reach 186,000 due to indirect effects.

Turner countered that this figure was speculative and claimed that the report ignored factors that might have potential positive health outcomes from limited access to harmful substances such as confectionery and cigarettes.

“So we pointed out, secondly, that this claim was based on entirely unfounded speculation, which also ignored factors that might result in lengthening the lives of Gazans, given the public health situation existing in Gaza prior to the war, including the extent of obesity. These factors include the possible reduction in the availability of confectionery and cigarettes," he said.

He further defended the remarks, claiming, “In the context in which they were made, our statements were accurate and objective.”

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis: Famine and death toll

The humanitarian impact of the Gaza war continues to escalate. The health authority in Gaza reports that more than 52,000 people have been killed since "Israel" began its war on the Palestinian enclave.

A separate study published in The Lancet found that life expectancy in Gaza has dropped by 34.9 years in the first year of the war, a decline of nearly 46.3% from the prewar average of 75.5 years.

Read more: Ben-Gvir urges Netanyahu to reverse Gaza aid plan

UKLFI’s history of anti-Palestine legal interventions

UKLFI, whose patrons include former Supreme Court judge John Dyson, ex-Conservative leader Michael Howard, and barrister David Pannick KC, has a history of anti-Palestine legal interventions.

In 2023, it successfully lobbied Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London to remove a display of Palestinian children's artwork, arguing it made Jewish patients feel “vulnerable, harassed and victimised.”

The group has also threatened the UK government with legal action over the suspension of around 30 arms export licenses to "Israel".

Read more: Lifting Gaza blockade urgent, delays in aid have consequences: UN

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Gaza

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, centre, leads a Cabinet meeting which is supposed to discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, August 7, 2025 (Lebanese Presidency press office)
Politics

Hezbollah, Amal ministers walk out of cabinet over US disarmament plot

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid, line up as they wait to enter Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Politics

Only 188 of 800 promised aid trucks entered Gaza: Euractiv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India listens to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer as they meet for bilateral talks at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump doubles tariffs on India over Russian oil despite partnership

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi during a speech in Sanaa, Yemen, August 7, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)\
Politics

Al-Houthi slams Gaza blockade, warns against disarmament, aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS