Thank you to those constituents who have contacted me about the terrible events in Gaza and the West Bank.

The continuing killing of Palestinian civilians is evidence of the appalling humanitarian disaster caused by the ground offensive in Gaza. During his recent visit to Israel the Foreign Secretary David Lammy rightly called, once again, for an immediate ceasefire.

On the question of arms sales, David Lammy told the House of Commons on 2 September that the Government has decided to suspend certain arms sales to Israel. He said:

“having considered the most recent assessment, the new Government has determined that there is a clear risk that certain items, if exported, might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL [international humanitarian law]….

These include licences for equipment that we assess is for use in the current conflict in Gaza, such as important components that go into military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as items that facilitate ground targeting. For transparency, the Government are publishing a summary of our assessment.”

Referring to the wider conflict since the attack by Hamas on 7th October, he also said that he was thinking of:

“The Israeli people still living under rocket fire, not only from Hamas but from other hostile actors explicitly dedicated to Israel’s annihilation, and fighting an enemy in Hamas whose appalling tactics endanger countless civilian lives. And the innocent Palestinians, with tens of thousands killed in the fighting, their numbers growing by the day, including distressing numbers of women and children. Many mothers are so malnourished that they cannot produce milk for their babies, and families are struggling to keep their children alive—disease and famine loom ever larger”.

On what is happening in the occupied territories, including the treatment of detainees, the Foreign Secretary said:

“The escalation we are now seeing in the west bank, as well as in Gaza, is deeply worrying, with many communities facing settler violence amid an ongoing occupation, and so many on either side of this terrible conflict convinced that the world does not grasp the reality of Israel’s predicament, or the depth of Palestinian suffering…..

We are deeply concerned about the ongoing IDF military operation in the occupied west bank and the attacks from Palestinian militants. We recognise, of course, Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried about the methods that Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in particular. It is in no one’s interest for further conflict and instability to spread to the west bank. We condemn the settler expansion—particularly the record levels this year—and the increase in settler violence. I condemn the language that has been used by Ministers in the Israeli Government—Smotrich and Ben Gvir—in relation to that in particular. It is entirely unacceptable language, and should be condemned by the Israeli Government as a whole….,

This Government are also deeply concerned by credible claims of mistreatment of detainees, which the International Committee of the Red Cross cannot investigate after being denied access to places of detention. Both my predecessor and all our major allies have repeatedly and forcefully raised these concerns with the Israeli Government. Regrettably, those concerns have not been addressed satisfactorily.”

The urgent task now is to actually get a ceasefire agreed so as to end the terrible loss of life and to enable the remaining Israeli hostages to be released. Following the publication of the American plan, the US has been working hard to get Israel to 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.

As a member of the Cabinet, I am unable to sign early day motions.

Best wishes

Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds Sout