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Original poster

In wanting Mumsnet to help Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley

880 replies

GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 18:55

Last week, Israel banned 37 international aid organisations from operating in the strip, including Oxfam, Save the Children and Medicine Sans Frontieres (MSF). MSF delivers one in three of Gaza’s babies, and experts warn that immediate action must be taken to prevent a catastrophe.

It has prompted more than 100 leading members of the arts, including Dames Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Joanna Lumley, Sienna Miller, Suranne Jones and singer Paloma Faith, to sign a letter urging popular online platform Mumsnet to join them in demanding urgent government action ensuring maternity care is accessible in Gaza.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-israel-baby-birth-judi-dench-letter-b2896981.html

International aid groups grapple with what Israel's ban will mean for their work in Gaza

Israel has revoked the licenses of more than three dozen humanitarian organizations, and now those groups are grappling with how that will affect aid operations in Gaza

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/israel-united-nations-norwegian-refugee-council-palestinians-doctors-without-borders-b2894091.html

OP posts:
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19
HeddaGarbled · 08/01/2026 20:26

Everyone’s been telling Israel off for quite a long time. Have Israel taken any notice? That’s a big fat no.

But now, Mumsnet are refusing to be that one voice that Netanyahu will listen to. How remiss of them. They won’t get the Nobel Peace Prize this way, will they?

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 20:18

More voices never hurt a campaign

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Nyeaccident · 08/01/2026 20:17

GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 20:13

Any means to an end maybe

Well that's daft. .
It's made them look like they have no understanding of how the world works. Which rather undermines their campaign..
They have the profile and the means to lobby government directly

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 20:15

It’s about adding voices increasing pressure on politicians surely

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GardyLou · 08/01/2026 20:14

I don't understand why the letter writers and signatories think that the mummies can solve what the diplomats and governments can't.

I wish we could 😭

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 20:13

Any means to an end maybe

OP posts:
Nyeaccident · 08/01/2026 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I loathe what Israel is doing to Gaza and absolutely agree it is genocide. ..
But it's absolutely crass and childlike to go about the campaign in this way.

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 20:11

@WinterGardening I don’t think so I think they just thought a site for mothers with a high profile would
a) be sympathetic to the plight of pregnant women in Gaza
b) a powerful ally when talking to politicians

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keyboar · 08/01/2026 20:09

WinterGardening · 08/01/2026 20:00

Oh good, another thread about this bullying, manipulative letter. I cannot believe that all those women signed that letter, or that the two luvvies in charge of it thought it was a good idea.

Still, they're not known for being bright 🙄

Are you known for it?

keyboar · 08/01/2026 20:09

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WinterGardening · 08/01/2026 20:08

GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 20:06

It is not about the celebrities it is about the pregnant women in need of help. Charities routinely ask celebrities to be involved to raise the profile of their campaigns, can’t say massive fan of tactic either but it gets news coverage therefore helps spread information about causes

the issue here is helping pregnant women at risk of bad outcomes

So why aren't the celebs writing to the government? What, exactly, do they think Justine can do?

What they are doing, is bullying her, and trying to manipulate her.

Nyeaccident · 08/01/2026 20:07

zzplee · 08/01/2026 19:56

I think the derision is about them petitioning Mumsnet to campaign about it. Why aren't they doing their own campaign to encourage people to directly petition the government?

Show quote history

Exactly this

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 20:06

It is not about the celebrities it is about the pregnant women in need of help. Charities routinely ask celebrities to be involved to raise the profile of their campaigns, can’t say massive fan of tactic either but it gets news coverage therefore helps spread information about causes

the issue here is helping pregnant women at risk of bad outcomes

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PrizedPickledPopcorn · 08/01/2026 20:04

I just don’t trust celebrities to assess political and humanitarian situations accurately. They are prone to fads and fashions. Why would those particular people decide MN is a good target to make a difference on such a political, sensitive issue. Why not put their effort into a situation closer to home. Or all the situations they’ve ignored around the world?

HeddaGarbled · 08/01/2026 20:02

Celebrities being performatively cross won’t make the slightest bit of difference.

WinterGardening · 08/01/2026 20:00

Oh good, another thread about this bullying, manipulative letter. I cannot believe that all those women signed that letter, or that the two luvvies in charge of it thought it was a good idea.

Still, they're not known for being bright 🙄

ForMyNextTrickIWillMakeThisVodkaDisappear · 08/01/2026 19:57

GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 19:48

@PollyBell Do you think contraception is reliably available in Gaza? The women are pregnant and need care debating why they are pregnant is beside the point and honestly distasteful

I do agree with this wholeheartedly. It doesn’t matter why or how a woman is pregnant (failed contraception, rape, choice) she needs and deserves medical care.

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 19:57

I suppose the thought was that as Mumsnet is host to mothers there would be a lot of sympathy among mothers for pregnant women. Mumsnet has hosted politicians so they obviously pay some heed to mumsnet as a channel to gauge the views of the mumsnet demographic therefore Mumsnet support would mean something were it given

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zzplee · 08/01/2026 19:56

GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 19:03

wow , will take a look but why would anyone disagree?

I think the derision is about them petitioning Mumsnet to campaign about it. Why aren't they doing their own campaign to encourage people to directly petition the government?

ForMyNextTrickIWillMakeThisVodkaDisappear · 08/01/2026 19:56

I am absolutely in support of helping the people of Gaza get the aid they need. It’s inhuman to leave these poor souls to suffer as they have and the likes of Netanyahu belong in the fucking Hague. I couldn’t give a tiny shit however, whether Joanna Lumley or Judi-rape apologist- Dench have co-signed a letter about it.

Kingscallops · 08/01/2026 19:53

Sausagenbacon · 08/01/2026 19:30

I feel sorry for the whole tribe, years of applause have addled their little brains, so they think that their opinions are important

Agree, the voting poll is interesting.

Nyeaccident · 08/01/2026 19:49

StrongestWoman · 08/01/2026 19:36

I can't wrap my head around this.

So a bunch of old luvvies wants to help mothers in Gaza, and to do this they decide to write a letter, not to Keir Starmer, not to Netanyahu, not to Trump, not to the UN but to Mumsnet??? Why?

What is their expectation of Mumsnet? Have they asked Tesco? Or any other random company?

It's mind boggling isn't it!!

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 19:48

@PollyBell Do you think contraception is reliably available in Gaza? The women are pregnant and need care debating why they are pregnant is beside the point and honestly distasteful

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PollyBell · 08/01/2026 19:43

Why on earth would anyone deliberately bring children into a war zone?

Original poster
GiantBranch · 08/01/2026 19:37

Is pregnancy not something that can unite all women who have been through it, we all know how tough it is, the situation of pregnant women in Gaza honestly makes me tear up. We all know how fragile new babies can be even with warm cozy homes, clean with everything to hand. I don’t know how they are coping. It is really not partisan to help other women in an horrendous situation

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