Catherine West (Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
X: @CatherineWest1. More here.
"Thank you for emailing me to ask for my thoughts on the horrific situation in Gaza.
I am absolutely clear that what is happening in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe and it must stop. I was one of the signatories to Labour’s Parliamentary motion many months ago calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, full humanitarian access to Gaza, and the end to settlement expansion in the West Bank and as a shadow foreign minister, I have been part of the team that has repeatedly pushed for the full restoration of funding to UNRWA, opposed any offensive in Rafah and called on the Conservative Government to release any legal advice about arms sales. David Lammy, the shadow Foreign Secretary, has also been clear that should we form the next government and see that legal advice Labour will suspend arms sales if there is a clear link to human rights abuses being committed in Gaza, as we would in any conflict.
In Labour’s manifesto for the upcoming General Election, which you can read in full here Vote for change on Thursday 4 July and let’s rebuild Britain’s future - Catherine West, we have reiterated these goals and that international law must be upheld. We have also made clear that a Labour Government would be absolutely committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
My website at www.catherinewest.org.uk/gaza has a full update on Labour’s actions since 7 October which I hope you will find helpful, and throughout my time as MP I have regularly met with constituents on Palestinian Solidarity Campaign lobbies of Parliament to hear and feedback their concerns. I have also visited Israel and the West Bank on a trip organised for Parliamentarians by Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Council for Arab British Understanding (CAABU), and I know all too well how vital it is that any ceasefire leads to a sustainable end to the conflict that has destroyed too many lives for far too long. The principles US President Biden has set out for a comprehensive ceasefire are important and I believe both sides must now accept this deal to bring the fighting to an end, free the hostages and provide urgent humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.
We are now weeks away from the General Election and, should the responsibility of government be entrusted to Labour, responding to the grave situation in Gaza will be our top international priority. I can assure you that we will be doing all that we can to bring about an end to this appalling conflict."