The co-leaders of the Green Party
have written to the UK government and the official opposition
urging them to "listen to the people” and join international
calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In a letter to both the Foreign
Secretary, [1], and his Labour
counterpart, Shadow Foreign Secretary [2], Green co-leaders Carla
Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader Zack Polanski and Global
Solidarity spokesperson Carne Ross set out how the only way to
protect civilians is for the fighting to stop.
In addition, they call on both
the Conservatives and Labour to throw their weight behind an
“internationally arbitrated once-and-for-all settlement” so that
“Israeli and Palestinian citizens can live in safety and security
with their rights, at last, fully protected.”
Co-leader Carla Denyer
said:
“The mass civilian suffering we
have seen in Israel and Gaza has shocked the world. Over 700
civilians are being killed every day, one child every ten
minutes. The dire humanitarian situation is clearly intolerable
and must end.
“We cannot hear arguments about
violence now somehow preventing further violence in future
without shuddering. The lives of children cannot be bartered in
this way.
“We are deeply concerned that
neither the UK government nor the official opposition has joined
international calls for a ceasefire. It is with deep regret that
the Green Party feels the need to point out that at times like
these, silence is complicity.
“We urge both the government and
the Labour Party to listen to the British people, three-quarters
of whom want an immediate ceasefire [3].”
In the letters, the Green Party
sets out how war crimes have been committed by both sides since
Hamas’s horrific attacks on 7 October.
Green Party co-leader Adrian
Ramsay said:
“The awful attacks committed by
Hamas on 7 October were brutal violence, and the hostages must be
released unconditionally, but the horrific attacks we saw on that
day cannot justify military actions that break international
law.
“There is no military route to
long-term safety and security for the Israeli and Palestinian
peoples, as they both deserve. Instead, there must be a political
settlement, based on the requirements of international law and
beginning with an end to the occupation.
“The UK government should push
for an internationally arbitrated once-and-for-all settlement
that fully ends the occupation of Palestinian territories
including East Jerusalem, in accordance with the requirements of
international law.
“It used to be the case that
international law was the basis of UK government policy, and the
positions of both Conservatives and Labour. It is deeply
troubling that this seems to have been forgotten by both
government and opposition. Such an abandonment will do
long-term harm to Britain’s already-questionable reputation as a
defender of the international rules-based order.”
ENDS
Notes
1
https://greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/letters/letter-to-foreign-secretary.pdf
2
https://greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/letters/letter-to-david-lammy.pdf
3
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/travel/survey-results/daily/2023/10/19/e363e/1
