UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Lib Dem MP Layla Moran demands the UK back tough Israeli stance with action as Gaza civilians face starvation, bombings, and medical collapse.
As reported by The Guardian, Layla Moran has called on the British government to follow its firmer stance on Israel with actual measures, citing “unbearably cruel levels of destitution.”
What did Layla Moran say about Gaza and the UK’s role?
Layla Moran said,
“I remain frustrated that while the government’s words and tone have changed, in terms of concrete actions, not much has changed.”
She pressed the government to recognize Palestine as a state, arguing it would “safeguard Palestinian interests and also send a very clear signal to Israel that there are consequences to their actions.”
Mr Moran condemned the government’s allowance of trade from illegal settlements and their decision to “still arm Israel when they shouldn’t be.”
The Lib Dem MP urged for increased intervention while appealing on behalf of Mohammad’s family. This NHS surgeon operated on her last year, with his elderly parents remaining trapped in northern Gaza.
She said Mohammad’s family struggle “reminds us that we have citizens of the United Kingdom who are being affected by what’s going on in northern Gaza.”
Having formed a bond with Mohammad while recovering from surgery, Ms Moran stated,
“Starvation shouldn’t be a weapon of war and it is unbearably cruel that it’s got to the levels of destitution that Mohammad’s family are describing, but their story is just one of millions that are now trapped in northern Gaza in a situation that seems even worse than at the beginning.”
She added,
“It has to stop now and the UK government needs to redouble its efforts to make that happen.”
Mohammad’s stance on life and starvation in Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp
Mohammad has spent 20 years working in the health sector. He grew up in the Jabalia camp and stays in frequent contact with relatives confined in Gaza.
He said,
“The entire population has been squeezed into around a couple of kilometres. A very small area with no shelter, no food, nothing. It’s beyond description. People are starving to death because there’s nothing left. They haven’t seen proper food or aid for the past three months.”
According to Mohammad, when he calls his parents, they tell him, “We are OK, we are managing.” He is especially worried about their health, as his mother has diabetes and hypertension, and his father is in a weakened state.
He stated,
“[My brother-in-law] said, your dad doesn’t tell you because he doesn’t want you to worry so much. Anybody a bit vulnerable basically dies.”
Mohammad has described the desperate situation, stating, “people dying of hunger and bombing,” with many injured or infected struggling to find medical help.
He added,
“Anybody who gets wounded is so unlucky, because they die. There is no treatment, no medicine, nothing to offer them.”
Mohammad’s brother-in-law’s views on Gaza’s siege
On 17 March, Mohammad’s brother-in-law phoned from northern Gaza amid ongoing Israeli rocket attacks.
He said,
“Everything is destroyed there. In the first starvation wave, there was animal food that people used to dice. Now, there is none of that. You’re very lucky if you have a bit of flour to make some bread,”
adding,
“The bombs won’t be able to kill everyone, it’s the starvation that will.”
What did Ed Davey urge Sir Keir to do, and how did Sir Keir respond?
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey pressed on Sir Keir to “pick up the phone to President (Donald) Trump for a joint plan to recognise Palestine and get food, water and medicine into Gaza.”
Sir Keir responded,
“The situation in Gaza is simply intolerable and getting worse.”
The Prime Minister stated,
“We are working with other leaders urgently to bring about the rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza which is desperately needed.”
He added,
“I still fundamentally believe that however remote it may seem at the moment, the pathway to a two-state solution is the only way for settled and lasting peace in the Middle East, and we will continue with our allies to pursue that path.”
What did Hamish Falconer say about the UK Government’s stance on the ICJ and genocide?
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer told MPs the government supports the ICJ and values its independence.
He said,
“It is the UK Government’s long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court and not for governments or non-judicial bodies.”
Mr Falconer added,
“The UK is fully committed to upholding our responsibilities under domestic and international law, and we have at all times, acted in a manner consistent with our legal obligations, including under the Genocide Convention.”
Gaza-Israel war
- Start Date: Major escalation began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel 2.
- Trigger: Hamas cited tensions over Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque and Israeli policies as reasons for its attack 2.
- Israeli Response: Israel declared war, initiating airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza 2.
- Casualties: High civilian and military deaths were reported on both sides 2.
- Hostages: Hamas took over 200 hostages, leading to prolonged negotiations 2.
- Humanitarian Impact: Gaza faced severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies due to blockades 2.
- International Reactions: Mixed global responses, with calls for ceasefires and debates over proportionality.