- Westminster should follow example shown by Senedd, says Liz
Saville Roberts
Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, , has urged Welsh
Labour MPs to vote in favour of the amendment to the King’s
Speech tabled by the SNP and co-signed by Plaid Cymru calling for
an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
Ahead of a vote expected today (Wednesday) on a ceasefire, Plaid
Cymru urged Welsh Labour MPs to follow the lead shown by the
Senedd, which last week “took a stand in the cause of humanity”.
The Welsh Parliament backed calls for a ceasefire last Wednesday
week, after 11 Labour backbenchers supported a Plaid Cymru
motion. Welsh Government ministers abstained on the vote.
In a letter, writes:
“Last week, the Senedd took a stand in the cause of humanity by
calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Wales is a small nation, but our
national parliament made a powerful statement for peace.
“Plaid Cymru sought cross party support for the motion with a
clear and unequivocal call for a ceasefire from both sides as a
precursor to peace talks, an immediate and lasting end to the
violence and death of civilians in Israel and Palestine, and a
global effort to ease the humanitarian suffering in Gaza.
“11 Labour and 1 Liberal Democrat MS joined calls for peace. Now,
we in Westminster have an opportunity to join those calls. We can
show the innocent civilians in Gaza, and the families of Israeli
hostages who are desperate for their safe return, that we stand
with them.
“Humanitarian pauses are insufficient. UNRWA has that
communications will start to fail as of Thursday 16 November,
when telecommunications companies run out of fuel to operate
their data centres and major connection sites.
“Without reliable communications, people will not know when
4-hour pauses in the bombing begin or when they should begin to
undertake the perilous journey across Gaza without access to
fuel.
“It's important that we, as parliamentarians, do what we can to
end the terrible suffering and try to build a lasting peace for
both Israelis and Palestinians alike.
“I urge you to support the SNP’s amendment to the King’s Speech
tomorrow.”
Ends.
Notes for editors.
UK: Ceasefire vote in Commons is 'vital moment' to protect
civilians in Gaza and Israel: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uk-ceasefire-vote-commons-vital-moment-protect-civilians-gaza-and-israel
Gaza: Welsh Parliament calls for ceasefire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-67357824
