Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East

Labour’s initial response to the treatment of Gaza caused huge hurt. We got it wrong and I am sorry for that.

Important meeting today with Children Not Numbers who are doing vital work on the ground in Gaza. The UK will continue to evacuate children with critical medical needs, supporting healthcare in Gaza and pushing Israel to allow vital healthcare supplies in.

Alongside international partners, the UK is pledging more support for @UNRWA to help Palestine refugees. UNRWA is central to helping Gaza at the scale required. It must be able to operate safely. Israel must lift restrictions and allow aid agencies to reach those in need.

We also welcomed six students from Gaza who had won scholarships to study here in the UK. Our theme - "The Future of Palestine" - could not be better summarised than by the talent and resilience of these individuals.

Thank you @YvetteCooperMP , @LucyMPowell, @HFalconerMP, @hzomlot and the PLP for joining our annual Summer Reception last night, and to our co-Chairs Sarah Owen and @JamesAsser We re-affirmed our commitment to peace, accountability and a two-state solution.

Tonight I attended the @LFPME Summer Reception in Parliament with powerful speeches from @hzomlot, @YvetteCooperMP and @LucyMPowell and met students from Gaza we supported last year to take up their studies in the U.K. So glad to have played a part in making that happen. 🙏🏽

Good to be with so many friends and colleagues tonight at @LFPME. The Labour Party’s commitment to justice, freedom and security for Palestinians is unwavering.

LFPME welcomes the measures announced yesterday - but they must be followed up with robust enforcement measures to ensure no UK entity is complicit in supporting illegal settlements.

We are deeply concerned at the vast rise in violent Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians, and at settlement expansion, which forces Palestinians off their land. The Israeli government itself is clear this is designed to prevent a 2 state solution ever being realised. (2/2)

Together with almost 140 fellow Labour MPs, I have written to the Foreign Secretary to call for a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Our group includes every Labour select committee chair. It’s time to be clear that settlements have no viable economic future (1/2)

Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon has displaced civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and eroded space for diplomacy. It must end. Hizballah must end attacks on Israel and disarm. All parties must support negotiations towards a lasting political settlement.

Israel's military escalation in Lebanon has killed and displaced civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and eroded space for diplomacy. It must end. Hizballah must end attacks on Israel and disarm. All sides must respect the ceasefire and engage with negotiations in good faith.

Continued escalation in Lebanon is undermining diplomatic efforts and having an unacceptable impact on civilians. Israel's expansion of the conflict must stop. Hizballah must end attacks on Israel and disarm. All sides should uphold the ceasefire and continue US-led talks.

Words of condemnation have so far done little to deter ongoing violations. We must now act to pressure Israeli authorities to adhere by the terms of the ceasefire, protect intl law, increase aid and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and uphold accountability.

Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and those across the UK from the Jewish community who are understandably feeling fearful.

LFPME are deeply saddened to see another violent attack targeting the Jewish community in London. Antisemitism should have no place in the UK and these latest attacks are abhorrent.

Full statement:

Alongside cuts to international aid announced last year, the sudden closure of this unit risks further limiting the UK’s position and contribution to the world stage, and undermines our ability to react quickly and compliantly to breaches of IHL in the Middle East. (5/5)

LFPME is deeply concerned that the FCDO is closing the international humanitarian law (IHL) cell. The cell did essential work establishing the UK government’s obligations under IHL and tracked breaches in Gaza and Lebanon. (1/5) 🧵