I support a ceasefire in the Gaza-Israel conflict

Following the events in Gaza and Israel my inbox has been filled with constituents expressing their profound concern about the unfolding tragedy and the emerging humanitarian crisis in the region.  I would therefore like to outline my position below.

I need to state, as I have done from the outset, that I totally condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7th October, the killing of innocent Israeli Jewish men, women and children, and the taking of over 200 hostages.

I echo the calls of the international community to release all hostages to safety immediately.

Equally, I condemn the killings of the thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, many of whom are children, in the actions that have unfolded in recent weeks.

It is important that we do not conflate the ordinary Palestinian people with Hamas. The civilians being killed in Gaza are not responsible for the atrocities at the hands of Hamas.

Israel has a right to defend itself within international law. However, the cutting off of vital aid by the Israeli Government - supplies of food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies as we have seen in recent weeks - I believe is a disproportionate response. NGOs on the ground are indicating that the humanitarian crisis is getting more desperate each day.

The bombardment of the Gaza strip has already resulted in an enormous loss of life- over 10,000 innocent Palestinian civilians, many of whom are children, have been killed. There are now 1.4m people displaced and even those who chose to move from northern Gaza have found no safe refuge in the south. We have seen ambulances, refugee camps, hospitals, UN Schools and UNWRA shelters all bombed, and the killing of journalists, UN and NGO staff.  

At what level of death and destruction do we say enough is enough? More violence is not the answer.

Over two weeks ago in Parliament I called on the Prime Minister to work with international partners to urge de-escalation and call for an immediate ceasefire. This is the only way to protect innocent civilians. You can view my question and the Government response in the video below.  I continue to support these calls.  

I have also joined a growing number of MPs, from across parties, to be a signatory to Early Day Motion 1.

We are collectively calling for the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to urgently press all parties for the following:

·        An immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities

·        The immediate, unconditional release of Israeli hostages

·        An end to the siege of Gaza

·        Unfettered access of medical supplies, food, fuel electricity and water

·        International humanitarian law to be upheld.

There are growing calls from the international community for an immediate ceasefire to protect both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. I echo those calls made in a statement signed by the heads of 18 United Nations organisations and major aid agencies including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, CARE International, Save the Children, the World Food Programme and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).  “Enough is enough. This must stop now”. The full statement can be viewed here.

I have also added my name to Amendment B to the King’s Speech sponsored by my colleague Zarah Sultana MP which calls on the Government to urgently press all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The UK Government and their international partners must do everything to achieve an urgent ceasefire and a lasting peace with the fundamental rights of Palestinians and Israelis respected -a secure Israel and a viable Palestine.

As your representative in Parliament, I will continue to do all I can to support these calls.