Statement on Gaza: Nov. 2024

Thank you for contacting me regarding the deepening conflict in the Middle East.

Since I was elected in July, I have received many letters and emails from Mid Sussex constituents expressing their concern about the conflict and suffering in the Middle East.  As I have been setting up my office and recruiting staff, I haven’t been able to reply as quickly as I would have liked.  I thought it would be best therefore to send everybody who has contacted me a full response setting out what I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues have been doing and detailing our position.

Since being elected to Parliament in July I have pressed the Labour government to do everything in its powers to bring this conflict to an end.

I have signed six ‘Early Day Motions’ setting out the Liberal Democrat position. You will see from the dates that the Motions were tabled that, as the conflict has escalated, my party has gone further in the actions that it is calling for.

EDM 11: Peace in Israel and Gaza
EDM 58: UK arms exports to Israel
EDM 207: Conflict in the Middle East
EDM 208: Peace in the Middle East
EDM 209: Immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
EDM 338: Israeli Knesset decision to ban UNRWA

In July I met Husam Zomlot the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and in September, I attended a Reception hosted by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians at the Liberal Democrats’ Conference in Brighton.

Below I am sharing the latest Liberal Democrat position on a number of issues relating to the conflict.

The Liberal Democrats are deeply concerned about the intensifying conflict in the Middle East. Over a year on from  the Hamas 7th October terrorist attacks, we face a devastating situation.
 
Gaza is facing a humanitarian catastrophe, tens of thousands of Palestinians have died and 90% of the population has now been displaced. Israel has twice been hit by airstrikes from Iran, tens of thousands remain internally displaced and around 100 citizens are still being held hostage by Hamas. In Lebanon, we are seeing a growing crisis. 1.2 million people have fled their homes with thousands living in temporary accommodation.

Across the region, there are many families mourning loved ones, and many displaced who want to return to their homes. We continue to call for immediate bilateral ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, to put an end to humanitarian devastation, get the hostages home, let displaced people return to their homes, and open the door to a two-state solution.

Liberal Democrats continue to be the  political party leading calls on the UK Government to take action on this devastating conflict.

LEBANON

Ceasefire

As the situation continues to deteriorate in the Middle East, with Israel's invasion of Lebanon ongoing, Hezbollah rockets striking into Israel and deterioration in Gaza, immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon are needed more than ever.

Following the escalating situation between Israel and Hezbollah, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller MP released a statement on 26th September saying: “It is only a political and diplomatic solution that will deliver security either side of the Blue Line and allow displaced people on both sides of the border finally to return home. Further escalation, such as a potential Israeli ground incursion, will de-stabilise the entire region.”

We were the first party to call for an immediate bilateral ceasefire in Gaza, and we remain committed to this objective and also to a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Humanitarian Aid

On 7th October, Monica Harding, Liberal Democrat International Development spokesperson, wrote to Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds asking for an increase in aid spending following Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon. Liberal Democrats research uncovered that there has been a cut in aid to Lebanon since 2019 of over 90% - we believe that this is unacceptable.

She also pressed the government to recommit to the 0.7% of Gross National Income target for Official Development Assistance, a commitment enshrined in law during our time in Government.

On 15th October, Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat spokesperson, raised aid for Lebanon in the Chamber and how the “international community must press for the protection” of innocent civilians.

UNIFIL

Liberal Democrats were appalled to learn of the unjustifiable attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon by the Israel Defence Forces. These are innocent civilians who deserve to be able to do their job without fear or threats.

Following the attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Calum Miller, our Foreign Affairs spokesperson, spoke in the House of Commons on 15th October putting our position on record, and urging Israel to comply with international law.

GAZA

Humanitarian Situation

We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian devastation in Gaza - and in particular the deteriorating situation in Northern Gaza. We continue to support increased humanitarian aid and urge the government to secure humanitarian access to Gaza.

On 28th October in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller MP addressed the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, saying “as the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza continues to deteriorate and the level of violence in the west bank worsens, the Liberal Democrats hope that the Foreign Secretary might go further, offering more than words of condemnation.”

On 21st October, Calum Miller MP also released a statement on behalf of the Liberal Democrats condemning the civilian deaths in Jabalia and other parts of northern Gaza, as well as continuing to call for a ceasefire to allow aid and recovery.

UNRWA

We are deeply concerned about the laws passed in the Israeli Knesset banning UNRWA. This move, if enacted, would lead to the deaths of innocent Palestinian civilians - at a moment that couldn’t be more desperate. One of the UN’s most senior humanitarian officials warned recently that “the entire population of north Gaza is at risk of dying”.

Calum Miller raised this in an urgent question to the government on 29th October, when he urged Ministers to ensure immediate humanitarian access into Gaza and to act on the recommendations of the Colonna Report.

As well as words of condemnation, we ask the government to set out consequences for breaching international law. We urge them to consider sanctioning Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for their incitement of violence against Palestinians by illegal settlers.

We also call for the government to continue to provide support to UNRWA to alleviate the humanitarian crisis as well as ensuring that the recommendations of the Colonna report are implemented as soon as possible.

Trade with illegal settlements, settler violence and the West Bank

Liberal Democrats are deeply concerned about the rise in settler violence and ongoing settlement expansion.

Settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is one of the biggest barriers to peace.
These settlements are illegal under international law, exacerbate tension, and undermine the viability of a two-state solution.

Liberal Democrats were the first major UK political party to call on the UK Government to sanction far-right Israeli ministers, and leaders of the extremist settler movement, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.

In his question to the Prime Minister on 15th October, Ed Davey asked whether the government would sanction Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir.

The issue of trade with illegal Israeli settlements was raised in the Chamber by the Liberal Democrats on 28th October. We believe that the UK government should cease trade with settlements in the occupied territories, following the ICJ advisory that Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal. Liberal Democrats were the first major UK political party to advocate for this policy.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller MP asked the Foreign Secretary whether, “Following the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion this summer that the occupation is illegal, does he agree that introducing legislation to cease UK trade with illegal Israeli settlements is a practical way of upholding that judgement?”

Arms Exports

As early as April of this year, Liberal Democrat Leader, Sir Ed Davey, called for the UK Government to suspend arms exports to Israel, becoming the first leader of a major UK party to do so.

Liberal Democrats have for many years now called for tougher controls of UK arms exports, to ensure that they are not used in potential human rights breaches.

We support the introduction of a ‘presumption of denial’ for all governments listed in the FCDO Human Rights and Democracy report as ‘human rights priorities’. We accordingly believe that arms exports to Israel should be halted.

In Foreign Office questions on 22nd October, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller MP echoed Ed Davey’s call, asking if the Minister agreed that the UK should now cease all arms exports to Israel, he was disappointed that the Minister did not address the request.

Hostages

We condemned Hamas’ terrorist attacks on October 7, which killed over 1,100 innocent Israelis. Many survivors remain traumatised by the use of sexual violence and there remains an ongoing hostage situation. Hamas’s taking of hostages is deplorable, including women, children, the disabled and the elderly. We are deeply concerned for the dozens of people who are still held hostage, including those that Israel say have been killed. We demand the immediate return of all the hostages.

Ed Davey earlier this year met with the families of those who have been taken hostage or murdered by Hamas. The Liberal Democrats continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages as an urgent priority.

In the Chamber on the 28th October, Calum Miller once again asked the Foreign Secretary what recent update he has had from the Israeli Government on the prospect of the return of the hostages.

Recognition of the State of Palestine

Liberal Democrats also call for the immediate recognition of Palestine, which will move us along the road to a two-state solution. This is a vital card which the UK can and should play at this desperate moment.

A lasting peace and two-states is the only way to guarantee the dignity and security which both Palestinians and Israelis deserve.

Liberal Democrats are leading calls for immediate recognition in Parliament: Layla Moran tabled a Bill in October 2024 calling for the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine, which Calum Miller co-signed.

IRAN

Liberal Democrats have also been leading calls in Parliament for the UK Government to take stronger actions against Iran, which has consistently de-stabilised the region, including via the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and armed terrorist proxies Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.
As a Party, we recognise the existential threat that Iran poses not only to Israel, but also to Western democracies including the UK. We continue to call for the proscription of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, who act with impunity and who supply terrorist groups such as Hezbollah with weapons.

The Liberal Democrats were the first UK party to call for sanctions on Iran following the murder of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, and we have recently also called on the Government to conduct an audit of UK-based assets owned by Iranian officials, in order to freeze those assets.

Thank you once again for writing to me on this important matter.

Kind regards,

Alison