Seven-Time F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Decries Gaza Genocide
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has condemned Israel’s action in Gaza and described it as ‘genocide’, referencing the landmark United Nations report and global audience to take immediate humanitarian action.
The 40-year-old F1 driver highlighted the mounting humanitarian catastrophe, citing starvation, collapse of essential services, and continuous bombing that has left over a million Palestinians displaced and over 65000 dead. “In the past two years, more than 10% of the population has been killed or wounded, including tens of thousands of children”, he wrote.
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Hamilton’s plea coincided with the newly launched Gaza Offensive by Israel in the Northern part of the strip, leaving 108 dead and thousands to flee their houses.
Hamilton called on his followers to support three frontline organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), UNICEF, and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF).
“We can’t just stand by and do nothing,” Hamilton wrote. “I’ve donated to three organizations that work tirelessly to help those in need. If you have anything to give, I’d be grateful if you joined me.”, he wrote.
Notably, on Sept. 16, a comprehensive 72-page report was released by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, chaired by the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
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The report determined that Tel Aviv has committed four of the five acts defined under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention which includes, killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberatly imposing life-threatening conditions and obstructing births.
The commission cited ‘genocidal intent’ evidenced by systematically destroying of healthcare and educational facilities, targeting attacks on children, sexual and gender-based vilolence, and issuing public statements framing military operations as a campaign of total annihilation.
