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.
Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, amplified untrue claims from “the media” who “pointed the finger at the Israeli Air Force”.
He posted his allegation 14 hours after evidence had already emerged casting significant doubt on Hamas’ claims about who was responsible.
The MP also cast doubt on the Israeli spokesperson’s denial that the country was behind the attack.
He said Israel had “released false and misleading statements in the past”.
Mr McDonald, a longstanding spokesman in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet, added that the “killing of hundreds of Palestinians in Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital is a war crime, as is the Israeli army’s collective punishment [of] the civilian population of Gaza as a whole”.
“Politicians around the world must say loud and clear: End the siege on Gaza.”
Mr McDonald’s Teesside neighbour, Tory MP Sir Simon Clarke, has now called on him to delete the claims.
Sir Simon told the Express: “It 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”.
“It 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.
“Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition have rightly said that MPs’ words really matter at a time when the situation both in Gaza and here at home is so sensitive.
“Mr McDonald is flying in the face of those warnings by regurgitating Hamas propaganda as truth.”
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.
Mr Blenkinsop, who is rumoured to be considering a parliamentary comeback at the next election, said Mr McDonald’s comments were “stirring things up before facts are fully known”, and said his post could face increased abuse and danger as a result of the speculation.
He added the thread from the Labour MP was “pure narcissism” and “unbelievably irresponsible”.
“Any candidates receiving endorsements from Andy McDonald really should distance themselves from him, especially after his comments yesterday and recent news coverage”.
The Express approached Labour and Mr McDonald for comment.
