I share the horror of people around the world watching the intolerable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza and the West Bank. Many constituents have written to me about the action by the Government. I am constantly in touch with the Minister regarding this situation and am sharing constituents’ concerns.

I welcome the Prime Minister’s most recent statement regarding the conflict, which states, “What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution.” You can read the statement in full here. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again announced that the Israeli Security Cabinet has approved plans to expand and intensify military operations in Gaza. This escalation comes after more than year and a half of immense suffering in Gaza in which more than 52,000 people have been killed. For over two months Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid. International humanitarian law must be upheld. Israel is legally obligated to allow unhindered aid into Gaza. 

I continue to support the UK Government’s call for an urgent and immediate ceasefire, and for the aid that desperately needs to enter Gaza to combat the ongoing famine. Food deprivation cannot be used as a weapon of war, the remaining 58 hostages must be released and it is essential that all military action must end. 

I welcome the statement that Hamish Falconer, Minister for the Middle East, gave last week to the House of Commons, which condemned the blockading of aid into Gaza, and the announcement from the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy in the House of Commons, that the Government has suspended negotiations with this Israeli Government on a new free trade agreement.  

The Government has also announced a new set of strict sanctions against Israeli’s causing direct harm to Palestinians and the peace process, including prominent settler leader Daniella Weiss, as well as two illegal outposts and two organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Along with Daniella Weiss, the individuals and entities sanctioned are Harel Libi, Zohar Sabah, Coco’s Farm, and Libi Construction and Infrastructure. You can read about these new sanctions here.

I recently met with the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. They had just signed the landmark memorandum of understanding with the UK Prime Minister. The Government has confirmed a £101 million support package for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, while reaffirming its commitment to the Palestinian Authority as the legitimate governing body of both the West Bank and Gaza. Prime Minister Mustafa was optimistic about the Peace Conference in New York in June.

The Government remain firmly committed to recognising a Palestinian state as part of a viable two-state solution. The Prime Minister is actively working with President Macron and Arab states to help advance this goal as has been seen in the very significant joint statement.

I strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s operations. Any attempt to annex land in Gaza would be unacceptable, as Palestinian territory must not be reduced or subjected to demographic engineering.

There must be an immediate ceasefire, alongside the release of all hostages, the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, and a clear pathway toward a lasting political solution.

The people of both Palestine and Israel desperately need to see a lasting peace secured. As Minister Falconer recently stated, the Israeli Government is ‘totally undermining the long-term stability of the region’, which is important not just for Israel and for Palestine, but for the UK and our friends and allies in the Middle East.

Many people have shared their concerns about illegal settlements in the West Bank, which I have seen for myself when visiting the West Bank in 2023 and 2024. The Minister for the Middle East, Minister Falconer, said in the House of Commons last week that settlements ‘are illegal under international law and we oppose completely any annexation of the West Bank.’ 

I am pleased that the Government is using all available diplomatic channels, including sanctions. We have imposed sanctions on violent settlers, and we have suspended arms licences. We will continue to act across the full range of our diplomatic options. I have also written to the Minister to share the views of many constituents about arms licences to Israel.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this deeply distressing situation. I remain committed to a two-state solution that ensures security for the Palestinian people. I will continue to speak out against any attempts to diminish Gazan territory or forcibly displace its population.