Today, Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME) MPs met the Palestinian Head of Mission in London, Dr Husam Zomlot, to discuss the current violence in Israel and Palestine.
LFPME heard that the death toll in Gaza has reached 119, including 31 children and a further 830 wounded casualties. In East Jerusalem there have been 923 Palestinians injured and a further 980 injured in the West Bank. Seven Israeli civilians have also been killed.
The devastation caused by the air strikes on Gaza, as Palestinians have been marking the Eid holiday, will continue to further deteriorate, if Israeli ground invasions into Gaza take place.
The assaults on Gaza, the expulsions of Palestinians in Jerusalem and the attacks on worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque are continued violations of international law. Israeli authorities continue to act with impunity and Palestinian lives continue to bear the brunt of this.
Palestinian families are paying the ultimate human cost. Al Jazeera has reported that over the last 20 years, Israeli forces have killed more than 3,000 Palestinian children; no soldiers have been prosecuted.
The international community has a responsibility to uphold international and humanitarian law. We call on the UK Government take firmer steps in response, and demand:
- There is an immediate cessation to hostilities from all sides.
- Illegal and discriminatory acts, such as the attempted forced expulsions in East Jerusalem and the attacks on worshippers at Al-Aqsa, must end.
- Violations of international law are met with sanctions
- Israel ends its illegal blockade on Gaza.
- All arms sales to Israel are suspended
Furthermore, the government must reverse its decision and support the International Criminal Courts investigation into the current situation in Palestine.
ENDS
