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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
19
FKAT · 11/01/2026 22:07

Ellen2shoes · 11/01/2026 18:17

Some posters seem to be going to great lengths to find increasingly preposterous reasons for not supporting the letter. From coercive control to supporting terrorism. . Bonkers!

I don't support the letter - you might find my reasons preposterous but I can live with that.

GiantBranch · 11/01/2026 22:07

you think asking the Israeli government to provide aid agencies the ability to provide adequate maternity care to vulnerable pregnant Palestinian women is pointless? Why?
@Twiglets1 surely they don’t want to see increased maternal and infant deaths? Are you really saying they are that cruel

OP posts:
GiantBranch · 11/01/2026 22:13

sounds anti semitic to me

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 11/01/2026 22:13

GiantBranch · 11/01/2026 22:07

you think asking the Israeli government to provide aid agencies the ability to provide adequate maternity care to vulnerable pregnant Palestinian women is pointless? Why?
@Twiglets1 surely they don’t want to see increased maternal and infant deaths? Are you really saying they are that cruel

Edited

@Ellen2shoes and I were taking about the UK government not the Israeli one, read our posts again.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 11/01/2026 22:21

GiantBranch · 11/01/2026 22:07

you think asking the Israeli government to provide aid agencies the ability to provide adequate maternity care to vulnerable pregnant Palestinian women is pointless? Why?
@Twiglets1 surely they don’t want to see increased maternal and infant deaths? Are you really saying they are that cruel

Edited

Posters are addressing the issue you raised in your OP about the luvvies "signing a letter urging popular online platform Mumsnet to join them in demanding urgent government action ensuring maternity care is accessible in Gaza"

Ironically you're showcasing precisely what will happen to Justine if she doesn't fawningly agree with them. She'll be framed as "uncaring about pregnant women in Gaza".
Which is exactly what many of your responses are to posters addressing the flaws in this rather arrogant letter. Ignoring their legitimate criticisms of the letter and wailing that they're just uncaring about pregnant women.

Odd you can't see that. 🙄

GiantBranch · 11/01/2026 22:25

Odd the views of many posters on this thread correlate to the views of exactly zero people I know in real life but there you go

OP posts:
inkognitha · 11/01/2026 22:33

GiantBranch · 11/01/2026 22:07

you think asking the Israeli government to provide aid agencies the ability to provide adequate maternity care to vulnerable pregnant Palestinian women is pointless? Why?
@Twiglets1 surely they don’t want to see increased maternal and infant deaths? Are you really saying they are that cruel

Edited

1/ Because it's not asking the right person
J is no more responsible than anyone else, and is certainly not the must influential person compared to the people putting her on the spot
It demands not only that she talks in her name, but in the name of the whole of MN, massive force teaming

2/ Because it's not asking the right way
This public gang up is unwarranted

3/ Because it's not asking the right thing
The UK government has already expressed its criticism and concern

4/ Because it's not asking the right questions
Why are we told that NGOs are barred from operating in Gaza, while it's only 15% of them who refuse to comply to some rules?
Why not be angry at them who decide to give up on women in Gaza for political motives?
Why do NGOs like MSF accept to be infiltrated and become politically engaged, hurting the principle of neutrality, trust and credibility that allow for all NGOs to operate worldwide?
Why not address the root of the problem and wonder why Hamas is not signing the peace treaty and releasing the last hostages?

HTH

ArabellaScott · 11/01/2026 22:35

MrsOvertonsWindow · 11/01/2026 22:21

Posters are addressing the issue you raised in your OP about the luvvies "signing a letter urging popular online platform Mumsnet to join them in demanding urgent government action ensuring maternity care is accessible in Gaza"

Ironically you're showcasing precisely what will happen to Justine if she doesn't fawningly agree with them. She'll be framed as "uncaring about pregnant women in Gaza".
Which is exactly what many of your responses are to posters addressing the flaws in this rather arrogant letter. Ignoring their legitimate criticisms of the letter and wailing that they're just uncaring about pregnant women.

Odd you can't see that. 🙄

This type of manipulative coercion instantly puts my back up.

Ellen2shoes · 11/01/2026 22:36

These are questions the Chair of the International Development Committee would like Yvette Cooper to answer by the end of the month:

Given the seriousness of this situation, I must ask you:
• How are you engaging with the Government of Israel to seek the suspension of the restrictions placed on UNRWA and international NGOs listed above? Failure to rescind these restrictions must carry meaningful and effective consequences.
• What assessment have you made of the number of affected INGOs that receive UK funding or have UK staff?
• How are you engaging with allies, including the United States and at the UN, on the collective response to protecting the access of humanitarian organisations to the Occupied Palestinian Territory?
I would welcome your response by Wednesday 28 January 2026. In line with our usual practice relating to Committee correspondence, we will publish this letter and your response.

Full letter https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/50983/documents/282447/default/

The luvvies are more specific:

Call on the UK government to insist Israel immediately allows:

  • The entry of four £75,000 mobile maternity clinics and other medical equipment currently waiting in Egypt with Medics Worldwide and Palestine Aid
  • Full access for independent NGOs such as Save the Children, Oxfam, MAP to deliver full humanitarian aid - currently over 6,500 trucks blocked according to Israeli human rights group Btselem.
  • The delivery of sanitary pads and other essential menstrual and hygiene supplies for women and girls

The more voices, the better and the more likely the UK government will surely be to take some action to make an effort to influence the Israeli government’s decision.
I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to support this: it’s healthcare for women in need, surely common ground for everyone.

Ellen2shoes · 11/01/2026 22:45

ArabellaScott · 11/01/2026 22:35

This type of manipulative coercion instantly puts my back up.

Why would it be ‘fawning’ if Justine agreed? Isn’t that rather derogatory? Can’t she just agree? Any manipulation and coercion that/has emerged so far on this thread comes from those who think she shouldn’t agree, including a suggestion that to agree would be supporting terrorism. Madness.

Nyeaccident · 11/01/2026 23:05

Ellen2shoes · 11/01/2026 22:36

These are questions the Chair of the International Development Committee would like Yvette Cooper to answer by the end of the month:

Given the seriousness of this situation, I must ask you:
• How are you engaging with the Government of Israel to seek the suspension of the restrictions placed on UNRWA and international NGOs listed above? Failure to rescind these restrictions must carry meaningful and effective consequences.
• What assessment have you made of the number of affected INGOs that receive UK funding or have UK staff?
• How are you engaging with allies, including the United States and at the UN, on the collective response to protecting the access of humanitarian organisations to the Occupied Palestinian Territory?
I would welcome your response by Wednesday 28 January 2026. In line with our usual practice relating to Committee correspondence, we will publish this letter and your response.

Full letter https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/50983/documents/282447/default/

The luvvies are more specific:

Call on the UK government to insist Israel immediately allows:

  • The entry of four £75,000 mobile maternity clinics and other medical equipment currently waiting in Egypt with Medics Worldwide and Palestine Aid
  • Full access for independent NGOs such as Save the Children, Oxfam, MAP to deliver full humanitarian aid - currently over 6,500 trucks blocked according to Israeli human rights group Btselem.
  • The delivery of sanitary pads and other essential menstrual and hygiene supplies for women and girls

The more voices, the better and the more likely the UK government will surely be to take some action to make an effort to influence the Israeli government’s decision.
I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to support this: it’s healthcare for women in need, surely common ground for everyone.

I would whole heartedly support an open letter to Yvette Cooper

Ellen2shoes · 11/01/2026 23:13

Me too. Perhaps this could be the first step

IwantToRetire · 12/01/2026 00:51

Ellen2shoes · 11/01/2026 22:45

Why would it be ‘fawning’ if Justine agreed? Isn’t that rather derogatory? Can’t she just agree? Any manipulation and coercion that/has emerged so far on this thread comes from those who think she shouldn’t agree, including a suggestion that to agree would be supporting terrorism. Madness.

The issue of the post on Site Stuff is they aren't asking JR to sign as for instance a sucessful business woman.

They are asking her to sign because the web site mumsnet is powerful.

And that isn't Justine (although she enables that). mumsnet power is it contributors.

But these air head theatricals caught up in their culture of "stars" and insane media personality politics, think all the nobodies cant think for themselves and will just silent accept having someone speak for them.

Whereas if they had any actual conviction, and really thought mumsnet was influential, they would be on here arguing their position.

Instead of which they think they can talk over our heads and just allow a known name to join their magic circle.

This is politics at its most facile.

That somehow you solve a problem because personalities say something.

Whereas the opposite is true. The idea that someone who only has an image that the media has allowed them to have, would be someone anyone would listen to is just facile teenage star fandom.

And everyone knows the only thing that makes politicians take notice (apart from Trump threatening who knows what) is to get the media on side.

The media aren't moved by these actresses. They only printed the story because to them is was a potential cat fight. Luvvies against mumsnet who they still think is about which type of biscuit a politician prefers.

How can anybody be that niave in the 21st Century to think the MSM who are the politicians bully boys and set and reset the agenda, would let themselves be diverted from their already fixed positions by a group of women.

Perfomative virtue signalling.

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 07:46

Nyeaccident · 11/01/2026 23:05

I would whole heartedly support an open letter to Yvette Cooper

And me.

It beyond me why well known women using their influence to garner support for a campaign they believe in should attract such criticism and disparagement.

Nyeaccident · 12/01/2026 07:48

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 07:46

And me.

It beyond me why well known women using their influence to garner support for a campaign they believe in should attract such criticism and disparagement.

Well it's not be on me. The issue isn't the topic of the letter it's who they addressed it to

Twiglets1 · 12/01/2026 08:05

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 07:46

And me.

It beyond me why well known women using their influence to garner support for a campaign they believe in should attract such criticism and disparagement.

Because they addressed it to the wrong person.

Perhaps we can all agree that Yvette Cooper would have been a more appropriate recipient.

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 08:16

Twiglets1 · 12/01/2026 08:05

Because they addressed it to the wrong person.

Perhaps we can all agree that Yvette Cooper would have been a more appropriate recipient.

Both would be better. Do we know that they haven’t written to the Home Secretary?

Ellen2shoes · 12/01/2026 08:17

Exactly

Nyeaccident · 12/01/2026 08:18

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 08:16

Both would be better. Do we know that they haven’t written to the Home Secretary?

Please link me to their open letter to the home secretary then? Although I would have thought it would have been better to send it to the foreign Secretary!

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 08:21

Nyeaccident · 12/01/2026 08:18

Please link me to their open letter to the home secretary then? Although I would have thought it would have been better to send it to the foreign Secretary!

How can I link to something I don’t know exists or not?

Clementi · 12/01/2026 08:21

It is very much ‘support my ill-thought out cause, on behalf of your users that we are not going to bother engaging with, or we will expose you to all as a heartless witch who doesn’t care about vulnerable newborns/cute fluffy things’

Nyeaccident · 12/01/2026 08:22

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 08:21

How can I link to something I don’t know exists or not?

Well if it existed as an open letter in the press I imagine it would be easy to find

If you don't know that it exists then you can't run that as an argument

Twiglets1 · 12/01/2026 08:22

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 08:16

Both would be better. Do we know that they haven’t written to the Home Secretary?

While they’re at it they could just send an open letter to every high profile person in the UK? Or maybe just stick to those in the cabinet.

Nyeaccident · 12/01/2026 08:22

Clementi · 12/01/2026 08:21

It is very much ‘support my ill-thought out cause, on behalf of your users that we are not going to bother engaging with, or we will expose you to all as a heartless witch who doesn’t care about vulnerable newborns/cute fluffy things’

Quite

ArabellaScott · 12/01/2026 08:23

Clementi · 12/01/2026 08:21

It is very much ‘support my ill-thought out cause, on behalf of your users that we are not going to bother engaging with, or we will expose you to all as a heartless witch who doesn’t care about vulnerable newborns/cute fluffy things’

Indeed.

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