Kate Osamor: What to know about British-Nigerian minister suspended for calling Israel’s actions genocide
British-Nigerian minister, Ofunne Kate Osamor has been suspended for accusing Israel of genocide ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day.
In her newsletter, she suggested adding Gaza to the list of recent genocides, sparking outrage. Osamor later apologized for any offense caused by linking Gaza to Holocaust Memorial Day.
The Labour Party suspended her pending investigation. Jewish groups criticized her remarks, citing the International Definition of Antisemitism. The UN’s top court ruled Israel must prevent genocidal acts in Gaza but didn’t order an immediate halt to operations. The Gaza conflict has claimed 25,900 lives. The war escalated after Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,300.
“I apologise for any offence caused by my reference to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza as part of that period of remembrance.”
‘The Labour Party has acted correctly in taking swift action against Ms Osamor and we will be following the matter with interest.
‘There are some who wish to drag the Party backwards to darker days when views like those expressed by Ms Osamor were common, and they must fail.’
“This week we have been commemorating the murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust – and those who perished in subsequent genocides, as listed by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
“Unilaterally co-opting the war in Gaza, despite the horrific suffering there, on to that list is wrong and offensive.”
What to know about Ofunne Kate Osamor
Kate Osamor, is a notable figure in British politics, faced suspension on Sunday evening following her assertion that Israel’s actions amounted to genocide.
Born on August 15, 1968, to Nigerian parents in North London, Osamor spent her formative years in the London Borough of Haringey.
Her academic journey commenced at Hackney College, where she completed an access course from 2003 to 2006, eventually pursuing Third World Studies at the University of East London.
Post-graduation, Osamor contributed to The Big Issue newspaper before transitioning to the National Health Service (NHS). With nine years as an executive assistant in a general practitioner (GP) out-of-hours service and two years as a GP practice manager, she built a robust foundation.
Affiliated with the Labour and Co-operative parties, Osamor’s political career burgeoned. Prior to her involvement in UK politics, she was an active member of Unite the Union, advocating for workers’ rights. Her parliamentary journey began in 2014 when she joined the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party.
In the 2015 General Election, Osamor triumphed as the Labour Party candidate for Edmonton, succeeding Andy Love. She served as the Shadow Secretary of State for International Development from 2016 to 2018, resigning from the Shadow Cabinet on December 1, 2018, citing the need to focus on supporting her family.
Osamor, a mother of one, faced controversy when her newsletter on Holocaust Memorial Day suggested including Gaza in the list of genocides, leading to the withdrawal of the Labour Party parliamentary whip pending investigation.
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Jewish groups criticized her remarks, with the Holocaust Educational Trust calling them a “painful insult,” the Board of Deputies of British Jews deeming them “disgraceful,” and the Jewish Leadership Council accusing her of exploiting Holocaust Memorial Day.
