Many constituents have contacted me about the terrible events in Gaza.

The continuing killing of Palestinian civilians is evidence of the appalling humanitarian disaster caused by the recent ground offensive in Rafah. During his recent visit to Israel the Foreign Secretary David Lammy rightly called for an immediate ceasefire – a position I strongly support.

On 13 May – ie before the election – David Lammy said “Labour has been opposed to an Israeli offensive in Rafah for months and has been clear it must not go ahead. This was part of Labour’s motion that passed the House of Commons in February and it is one of the reasons we have been calling on David Cameron to publish a summary of the legal advice with regards to arms sales. President Biden is correct to tell Prime Minister Netanyahu that the US will not supply weapons that could be used in a Rafah offensive if Israel proceeds with a full-scale attack on Rafah against the international community’s warnings… The UK Government should now work with the US to try and prevent a Rafah offensive by being clear it will assess UK exports and, if the Rafah offensive goes ahead, join our PPP American allies in suspending weapons or components that could be used in that Rafah offensive.”

Over the past few months we have seen an intolerable loss of civilian life and an unacceptable humanitarian disaster in Gaza. There needs to be an urgent and independent investigation into the discovery of mass graves outside the Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals in Gaza (hospitals should never be targeted).

There is widespread concern about Israel’s conduct in Gaza, including allegations from the UN, and this is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the International Court of Justice which has called on Israel to stop its operation in Rafah. Israel should now comply.

The Government supports an immediate ceasefire. Hamas must release and return all hostages; and Israel and Hamas should abide by the international calls, including by the United Nations Security Council, for an immediate ceasefire, leading to a political process and a lasting peace which is observed by all sides. Our thoughts must also, of course, be with the families of all of those in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza who have lost their lives since the terrible events of 7th October.

There needs to be a continuing surge of aid into Gaza in view of the reports of desperate shortages and people going hungry. Future funding for UNWRA must be restored.

As you may have seen, on 21 February the House of Commons agreed a Labour proposal, which I supported, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. This was very important because it was the first time Parliament had done so. The full text of the motion was as follows:

“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 7 October 2023 cannot happen again; therefore supports diplomatic mediation efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire; demands that rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza; further 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 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.”

The urgent task now is to actually get a ceasefire agreed so as to end the terrible loss of life. Following the publication of the American plan, the US was reported as having “every expectation” that Israel would accept the ceasefire proposal – now backed by the UN Security Council – that would begin with a six-week cessation of hostilities in Gaza provided that Hamas also accepts the deal. I am sure, like me, that you deeply regret the fact that in recent weeks no progress appears to be made on this. I would urge both sides to support the proposal immediately as the quickest way to end the fighting. We also need a peace process in which both sides show the political courage required to bring this long-running conflict to an end.

Thank you once again for contacting me.

Best wishes

Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland