More must be done to help civilians in Gaza
I HAVE received hundreds of emails from concerned constituents about the dire situation in Gaza and it is the only thing I could write about this week.
The politics of the Middle East are phenomenally complicated but human rights are very simple.
Hostage taking is horrendous and is to be deplored — as is the brutal killing of innocent Israelis by Hamas and the killing of innocent Palestinians by the Israel Defense Force.
In responding to the attack and attempting to rescue hostages, Israel must adhere to international law and distinguish Hamas — a terrorist organisation — from the Palestinian people, taking all steps to avoid the death and suffering of innocent Palestinians.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was already desperate prior to this war and more needs to be done to support civilians there and ensure they are protected.
There must be humanitarian access to Gaza to ensure the supply of food, water, medicine and electricity.
Lisa Nandy, Labour’s
Shadow Cabinet
Minister for
International Development, has called on the UK Government to work to bring critical humanitarian aid closer to the frontline.
This must work towards establishing safe evacuation corridors within Gaza and engaging with other UN member states to leverage increased funding for UNRWA — which provides crucial support to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and across the wider Middle East.
All combatants must respect humanitarian workers, UN facilities and journalists and ensure they do not come under attack.
The implications of Israel’s order that more than one million people living in North Gaza should relocate to the south are of enormous concern.
For many people this is impossible, while such
a large-scale movement of refugees also risks longer-term mass displacement both within Gaza and in
neighbouring states.
Both Israelis and Palestinians are suffering as a consequence of Hamas’ actions which
have set back the cause of peace.
Israel must ensure that it does not fall into the trap Hamas have set by
collectively punishing innocent Palestinians in response and that it focuses on only targeting the guilty.