Lisa Nandy responds to escalating violence in Israel and Gaza

“The escalation of violence in Jerusalem, Gaza and Israel is appalling. The Labour Party utterly condemns the attacks that have endangered civilian lives and resulted in Palestinian and Israeli casualties, including children. Communities here in the UK and around the world have been horrified by these scenes and are gravely concerned by the prospect of the situation deteriorating further.

“There must be an immediate end to the rocket attacks and air strikes that risk further civilian fatalities. With the coordinated support of the international community, Palestinian and Israeli leaders must work to urgently de-escalate tensions. Anything less is an abject failure of responsibility which will lead to further suffering.

“Once this terrible violence has ended, we must ensure that the root causes of the conflict are recognised and addressed. International law must be adhered to. The eviction of Palestinians from their homes in occupied East Jerusalem has got to stop and all religious sites must be respected. At the same time, Britain and the international community must reinforce our commitment to a two-state solution.”