Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write to me about the war in Gaza, and for sharing your own views with me.

I have been campaigning for a two-state solution all my adult life, after first being awakened to the horrors and injustices of this conflict in the late 80s. I am committed to doing everything I can to push for strong action to bring this brutal conflict to a close, and continue to raise the issue regularly in parliament. I have met with the Foreign Secretary to discuss this issue with him personally, and have also raised it with repeatedly with Foreign Office Ministers and will continue to do so.

In recent weeks the situation in Gaza has become even more intolerable, with a total blockade on aid and an expansion of Israeli military action. I am therefore pleased that the Prime Minister has released a joint statement with the leaders of France and Canada where they voice their staunch opposition to Israel’s expansion of military operations in Gaza, and state that “we will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response… We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.” You can read the full statement by clicking here.

I am also pleased that, in response to these recent actions by Israel, the Foreign Secretary has issued new sanctions against violent settlers and has suspended UK trade negotiations with Israel, something I have been calling for in parliament. I have been arguing for months for targeted sanctions used against Israeli government ministers who have called for actions against Palestinians that would clearly constitute war crimes. I am glad the government has now confirmed sanctions for the far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have repeatedly incited violence against Palestinians.

I also welcome that the government has voiced their staunch opposition to the unacceptable proposals put forward by Donald Trump for the US to occupy Gaza and for Palestinians to be expelled. These proposals appear to have no support across the international community and are not a credible or just path to a lasting peace for Palestinians or Israelis. A Foreign Office minister at the time stated categorically that the UK “oppose[s] any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.” The Foreign Secretary, along with other European leaders, has made clear that the UK is supporting the peace and reconstruction plan being forwarded by Arab leaders, which is the only credible plan on the table.

Nevertheless, I remain hugely concerned that the government’s response remains inadequate to the scale of the crisis we are seeing. I want to see the government recognise a Palestinian State, something I called for recently in parliament. I also signed a recent letter calling on the government to recognise a Palestinian state, as France are planning to do. In the coming weeks and months I will continue to push the government on these vital measures.

It is appalling that for over two months no food, fuel, or medicine was allowed into Gaza by Israel, threatening mass famine. I am glad the UK government acted to reinstate funding for UNWRA upon entering government, has ruled out cuts to humanitarian aid funding to Gaza, and continues to push for Israel to allow vital aid to enter the Strip. Having raised support for UNRWA in parliament, I am also pleased the UK government has voiced their opposition to Israeli attempts to curtail UNRWA’s activities, and that the UK also voted with the UN General Assembly to demand that UNRWA’s mandate for aid to Palestinians is honoured. The Prime Minister has also met with the UNRWA Commissioner and pledged an additional £13 million in support for Palestinian refugees.

There is no moral equivalence between Israel and the terrorists of Hamas, and I will always support Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself and to keep its citizens safe. However, given the immense suffering that continues to unfold in Gaza, it is essential that where there is a risk of British weapons being used to commit breaches of international law, such exports should be suspended. Arms export controls are the law and should be applied equally to all countries without fear or favour, including Israel.

That’s why after a comprehensive review the UK suspended 30 arms export licences to Israel, affecting equipment such as parts for fighter jets, helicopters, and drones, where a risk had been identified that they could be used to commit breaches of international law in Gaza. These 30 licenses represent all UK arms that could have or were being used in Gaza. I have called for the UK to do more to encourage our allies, particularly the United States, to do the same.

I am deeply concerned to hear that the UK has been providing training to a “limited number” of Israel Defence Forces personnel on UK-based training courses, and will be raising this urgently with the government.

We owe it to the children being born today in Israel and Palestine to do everything we can to ensure that the cycle of violence, hatred, and fear does not become their inheritance too. We urgently need to find a path back to a lasting ceasefire, which must be the first stage in a new diplomatic process that delivers a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. Given the direction taken by the Trump administration since he entered office, I fear we are moving further away from that goal rather than closer. Nevertheless, as your MP I want to assure you that I will continue to do all I can to ensure the UK plays its role in finally bringing an end to this appalling conflict once and for all.

The final issue I want to address is one closer to home, and that is the sickening wave of antisemitism and Islamophobia that has swept Britain as the conflict in Gaza has unfolded, with the latest statistics showing a shocking rise in both forms of hate crime. I am deeply troubled to have received reports directly from constituents who have been the victim of antisemitism and Islamophobia. That is completely unacceptable, and it is therefore essential that we all stand together in opposition to racism, intolerance, and prejudice in whatever form it comes.

At the outset of this crisis, Keir Starmer said in Parliament that “every MP has a duty to work in their constituency to say no to this hate and to ensure that every British Jew and every British Muslim knows they can live their life free from fear and free from discrimination here in their own country”.

That is a duty I take extremely seriously, and I would urge anyone who sees or experiences any incidents of either to tell me and tell the police so we can take the necessary action to root it out and ensure those responsible face the consequences of their actions.