This is the reply I received from my Labour MP
Thank you for contacting me again on 14th November 2023 about the conflict in the Middle East. I continue to be deeply concerned by what is happening and want to see this terrible situation come to an end as soon as possible..
Whilst I know that many of my constituents are already aware of my view on the appalling situation on the ground in Gaza, and specifically the need for a huge increase in international aid and the necessity for international law to be upheld, I recognise many of you have raised the specific question of the votes on the King’s Speech which took place on Wednesday, 15th November. I – along with many other members of the Parliamentary Labour Party – encouraged senior colleagues to submit a Labour amendment calling for the violence to end as soon as possible and setting out a means by which we can ensure international law is upheld.
Labour’s amendment was explicit in setting out a commitment to the rules-based international order, international humanitarian law and the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to address the conduct of all parties in Gaza and Hamas’ attack in Israel. This is a crucial point, albeit one the Government has thus far not properly addressed. More importantly it affirms that we all want to see an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine and to take the steps needed to secure an enduring cessation of fighting as soon as possible. However, I do not believe that an immediate cessation of hostilities is realistic or can be delivered in practice: these objectives are always hard won and involve diplomacy and negotiation and it will take time to bring this about.
For reference, below is a copy of Labour’s amendment:
“and submit to Your Majesty that this House wishes to see an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine; unequivocally condemns the horrific terrorist attack and murder of civilians by Hamas, calls for the immediate release of all hostages and reaffirms Israel’s right to defend its citizens from terrorism; believes all human life is equal and that there has been too much suffering, including far too many deaths of innocent civilians and children, over the past month in Gaza; reaffirms the UK’s commitment to the rules based international order, international humanitarian law and the jurisdiction of the ICC to address the conduct of all parties in Gaza and Hamas’s attacks in Israel; calls on Israel to protect hospitals and lift the siege conditions allowing food, water, electricity, medicine and fuel into Gaza; requests the Government continue to work with the international community to prevent a wider escalation of the conflict in the region, guarantee that people in Gaza who are forced to flee during this conflict can return to their homes and seek an end to the expansion of illegal settlements and settler violence in the West Bank; and, while acknowledging the daily humanitarian pauses to allow in aid and the movement of civilians, believe they must be longer to deliver humanitarian assistance on a scale that begins to meet the desperate needs of the people of Gaza, which is a necessary step to an enduring cessation of fighting as soon as possible and a credible, diplomatic and political process to deliver the lasting peace of a two-state solution.”
To reiterate – because there has been a lot of misleading information circulating – I confirm that I voted for an amendment which, amongst other things, called for an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine; called on Israel to protect hospitals and lift the siege conditions allowing food, water, electricity, medicine and fuel into Gaza; sought a guarantee that people in Gaza who are forced to flee during this conflict can return to their homes and sought an end to the expansion of illegal settlements and settler violence in the West Bank.
While the Labour amendment – which the Government used its overwhelmingly majority to block – acknowledged the daily humanitarian pauses to allow in aid and the movement of civilians, it stated that they must be longer to deliver humanitarian assistance on a scale that begins to meet the desperate needs of the people of Gaza, which is a necessary step to an enduring cessation of fighting as soon as possible and a credible, diplomatic and political process to deliver the lasting peace of a two-state solution.
All of us want peace and all of us want to see the loss of life come to an end.
Kind regards
good news
