The death toll from Israeli air strikes on Lebanon has surpassed 3,000, sources on the ground confirm, as the UK government today joined the chorus of international voices demanding an immediate ceasefire. The figures, collated by local hospitals and civil defence agencies, paint a grim picture of an escalation that shows no signs of abating. Uncovered documents from the Israeli Defence Ministry, obtained by this reporter, suggest that the campaign was planned months in advance with precise targeting of Hezbollah strongholds in the Bekaa Valley and southern Beirut.
But the collateral damage has been devastating. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled. The smell of cordite and death hangs over the city.
The UK Foreign Secretary, speaking from the House of Commons, called for a “cessation of hostilities” and expressed “deep concern” over the rising civilian casualty count. But words, as we know, are cheap. The financial flows tell a different story.
My sources inside the City of London indicate that British arms manufacturers continue to supply components for the very fighter jets dropping those bombs. The hypocrisy is staggering. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket fire into northern Israel has killed 12 civilians, but the asymmetry is obscene.
The UN Security Council meets tonight, but expect more posturing than action. The money trail always leads to the same place: a system that profits from war while preaching peace.
