,
Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the announcement
of an agreed ceasefire, said:
“This is a welcome step which offers hope to the people of Israel
and Palestine that this devastating escalation of violence will
come to an end. The events of the last 11 days have been
appalling and the loss of life amongst Palestinian and Israeli
civilians, including so many children, is heart-breaking. It is
vital that this agreement is honoured.
“The international community must now step up and provide urgent
humanitarian assistance to Gaza. This includes vital medical
support as well as fuel to ensure rolling blackouts do not leave
homes and hospitals without power.
“As the people of Israel and Palestine begin to come to terms
with the horror of recent days, this must mark a turning point.
For too long, a meaningful peace process has amounted to little
more than an empty promise. Rocket attacks and indiscriminate
violence spread terror and sustain enmity and distrust. Forced
evictions and illegal settlements have made the prospect of a
viable two-state solution an all too distant reality.
“There is no military solution to this conflict. We must
establish a meaningful peace process that ensures a sovereign
Palestinian state alongside a safe, secure Israel becomes an
achievable prospect.”
