Matt Rodda Member of Parliament for Reading East
Labour supports an immediate humanitarian ceasefire – I will be voting for this today. The Rafah offensive must not go ahead.
Over the past few months, we have seen an intolerable loss of life and an unacceptable growing humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
That is why labour have put down this strong motion to make it clear an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah must not take place, that Hamas must release and return all hostages and the British government should join others in calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that leads to a political process and a lasting peace.
• What we want to see is an immediate stop to the fighting and a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides.
• We are calling on the UK government to convene an emergency security council meeting at the UN to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief to be provided in Gaza.
• We are clear we need a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides. Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence. Israelis have the right to the security that the horror of October 7th cannot happen again.
• Further to this, there will be no lasting peace without a diplomatic process that delivers a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.
• Labour would work with international partners to recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to rather than outcome of a political process.
• Statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour.
Labour amendment text below:
‘That this House believes that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah risks catastrophic humanitarian consequences and therefore must not take place; notes the intolerable loss of Palestinian life, the majority being women and children; condemns the terrorism of Hamas who continue to hold hostages; supports Australia, Canada and New Zealand’s calls for Hamas to release and return all hostages and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which means an immediate stop to the fighting and a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides, noting that Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence and that Israelis have the right to the assurance that the horror of 7th October cannot happen again; therefore supports diplomatic mediation efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire; demands that rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza; demands an end to settlement expansion and violence; urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures; calls for the UN Security Council to be meet urgently; and urges all international partners to work together to establish a diplomatic process to deliver the peace of a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state, including working with international partners to recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to rather than outcome of that process, because statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour’.