The population in Gaza of over two million live together in an area equivalent to the Isle of Wight.
In response to the Prime Minister's statement in the House on Monday 16th of October, I quoted a senior constituent who said:
"This is a harrowing time for Jews all over the World. There are about 16 million of us worldwide, why can't they leave us alone?"
The subsequent widespread conflict and violence that has taken place in Gaza, as well as the ongoing holding of Israeli and international hostages, must end.
We welcomed the agreement reached overnight on the 21st of November of a temporary ceasefire and the subsequent extensions of said ceasefire. We desire for meaningful and constructive dialogue behind the scenes and appreciate the work of mediating parties including Qatar. Both sides are hurt in this terrible ongoing conflict. What needs to be prioritised is the safety of citizens.
Residents have been vocal in their condemnation of atrocities on both sides of the conflict. I respect, respond and recall every message and every view shared. Varying views are shared – it is right to recognise each view and act on behalf of all constituents, not just those able to speak the loudest.
Hamas must release all of the hostages immediately. This pause must be used to get the hostages out safely and to tackle the urgent and unacceptable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
In the weeks following the horrific attack on the 7th of October, I have joined numerous briefing sessions with the Foreign Secretary and other senior Ministers to learn more about what has happened and what may happen next.
I have also been in close, constant contact with religious representatives from across Worthing, Arun and West Sussex.
We must keep in our minds that, until they release the hostages, until they can honestly say that they're not going to repeat that kind of attack, and that they're going to recognise a State of Israel, Hamas will be a continuing problem.
It is important that we acknowledge that we can't just close our eyes and hope that an instant, lasting ceasefire will solve all of the problems.
We have to have an end to the violence. We have to find peace. War cannot be a means to an end.
Some constituents were in contact regarding the SNP amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a ceasefire. The vote on the King’s Speech is a vote of confidence in the Government and is expected to be passed without amendment. Therefore no Conservative MPs will support an opposition amendment to the King’s Speech. Opposition parties are aware of this and will propose contentious amendments that will likely trigger public backlash, as was the case with the vote on the 15th of November. It would not have been a binding measure. The suggestion that it would have directly led to an immediate ceasefire is fictitious.
There will be plenty of time in the future to discuss and resolve the terrible way that the aggressive settlements have destroyed people's lives in the West Bank and the condition of people in Gaza in the past.
Reconciliation cannot be reached from both extremes. Those who are moderate are in danger when leading voices move further to these peripheries and condemnation is directed only at one side.
I knew Said Hammani, the London head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) in the 1970s. His background was in journalism, diplomacy and politics. He promoted peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, perhaps one of the earliest suggestions of the two-state solution. He recognised the need for both sides to come together in a common pursuit of peace. He was assassinated whilst in London by an extremist breakaway part of the PLO who rejected any suggestion of cooperation and peaceful coexistence.
In the current conflict escalated by the deliberate unrestrained killings and hostage-taking of the Hamas attack of 7 October, there is the urgent need to stop the suffering now and in the future. We have to recognise the bigger reality is the deliberate pogrom launched from Gaza by Hamas killers across the Israel border on innocent Israelis of all faiths and the wilful desire to draw Israeli Defence Forces into prolonged direct combat, harming innocent civilians in Gaza and Israel alike.
I join calls across Parliament and worldwide to protect civilians: to urgently press all parties to agree to an immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities, to ensure the immediate, unconditional release of the Israeli hostages and to call for an end to the total siege of Gaza.
We must continue to work towards a two-state solution to bring security to both the people of Israel and to the people of Gaza.
We cannot simply close our eyes in the wild ambition that calling for a ceasefire will have a dramatic effect on the conflict. Rather, I support wholeheartedly the important and ongoing diplomatic work of the Foreign Secretary.
Political leaders across the world, including our own, must back the call to help avoid the loss of any more civilian lives.
The UN General Secretary has called for this. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are right to act on this. Lives must be saved.
