The recent events in Israel and Gaza following the deaths of 1400 people in a horrific attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel has been of great concern to me and my fellow Members of Parliament of all parties.
The stories and TV footage coming out of the region have been harrowing for many of my constituents and I have received many emails from local people expressing their horror at the number of deaths in Israel, and their concerns about the impact of the Hamas terrorists’ actions on the civilian Palestinian population.
The UK Government has made it clear Israel has the right to defend itself, in line with international law, against such heinous attacks, while also stressing it is very important to ensure aid can get through to ordinary Palestinian people and prevent escalation. As the Brentwood Gazette goes to press this week, I am very pleased with the news coming through that Israel has now agreed to the “continuing flow” of aid into Gaza.
I feel it was right for our Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to visit the area to take part in talks with Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. I welcome the news that Israel will not prevent aid entering Gaza, and Saudi Arabia has agreed the need to deliver aid to ordinary Palestinians.
The UK recognises the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and supports a lasting solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike. However, Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their aspirations; it offers nothing for them other than more terror and more bloodshed.
This makes the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza is even more troubling. I am proud the UK has long been a significant provider of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, and I welcome that on 16 October, the UK Government announced that it will increase aid by a third, with an additional £10 million of support. Furthermore, the UK has deployed significant military support to the region to help facilitate the humanitarian response and mitigate escalation of the conflict.
The Prime Minister's statement to the House of Commons following his visit to the Middle East can be read in full here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-to-the-house-of-com…
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly gave a statement at the Cairo Peace Summit on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and your can read his words here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretary-statement-at-c…
