SLOUGH LIB DEMS BACK CALLS FOR A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE IN THE ISRAEL-GAZA CONFLICT

Slough Lib Dems back demands for the UK Government to lead calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire which will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and provide an opportunity to realise the release of the hostages.

We condemn the awful terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel on the 7th October, the taking of hostages and the loss of all innocent lives – Palestinian as well as Israeli. We are horrified at the scenes of violence in the recent weeks and are deeply concerned at the devastating situation in Gaza which is facing a humanitarian crisis for its 2.2 million residents, and we remain horrified that many Israelis are being still held hostage.

We urge the UK Government to lead international efforts to call for the restoration of essential supplies such as food, water, medicine and electricity to Gaza in line with international law. Aid should be managed by the United Nations along with international non-government organisations. We also urge the UK Government to heed the calls of the World Health Organization, that the forced evacuation of hospitals in Northern Gaza may be a breach of international humanitarian law.

We believe that innocent Palestinians must not pay the price for the atrocities of Hamas; that is why we urge the UK Government to lead calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

We believe the people of Israel and Palestine have a right to live free from fear. We therefore ask the British Government as a permanent UN Security Council member to promote efforts to achieve a conflict resolution in the interests of ending the violence inflicted on both Israeli and Palestinian civilians since 7th October. The Government should also support UN involvement in a post-conflict reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

We also call on the Government to demand a redoubling of efforts to bring about a lasting peace and seek viable solutions for ending the 75 years of cyclical conflicts since the creation of the Israeli state. The resolution of the conflict needs to recognise that over those years many Palestinians have suffered terribly, including having property taken from them that was internationally recognised as rightfully belonging to them.

Statement unanimously agreed at AGM of Slough Lib Dems, 8 Nov 2023;

Signed:

Councillor Frank O’Kelly, 2024 Chair, Slough Lib Dems;

Matthew Taylor, 2023 Chair, Slough Lib Dems;

Robert Plimmer, Treasurer;

Councillor Asim Naveed, Diversity Officer;

Asghar Ranjha, Membership Officer;

Councillor Amjad Abbasi, Executive member;

Josephine Hanney, Executive member;

Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Executive member;

Manjit Kaur, Executive member;

Catharine Parkes, Executive member;

And others.