THE Government has insisted its support for Israel is “not a blank cheque” as MPs continue to force a vote on a ceasefire.
Giving an update to MPs on the humanitarian crisis engulfing Gaza, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said more than 150 British citizens had fled the region via the Rafah crossing, which has been open five days of the last seven.
But he conceded the amount of aid reaching Gaza was “nowhere near enough” and said the international community including the UK was pressing Israel to agree “humanitarian pauses” with Hamas.
War broke out in the region on October 7 when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing around 1400 people and taking more than 200 Israelis hostage – a handful of whom have since been returned.
Gaza has remained under siege and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have launched a ground invasion, which has effectively split the strip in two. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said 10,569 have been killed since the conflict broke out.
There are concerns Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has amounted to collective punishment – a war crime under international law.
Asked by his Labour shadow Lisa Nandy (above) whether he agreed the UK’s support for Israel was not a “blank cheque,” the International Development Minister said: “Of course, she is right about that.
“Good friends deliver hard messages and they’re able to do so precisely because they are good friends.”
Mitchell drew laughs when he was unable to say whether he backed Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s description of pro-Palestine protests as “hate marches”.
Asked by Labour backbencher Stephen Timms if he would distance himself from her comments, Mitchell replied: “We are all responsible for what we say and she said it in the way that she did.”
Meanwhile SNP MP Chris Stephens reiterated his party’s calls for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
Momentum is growing behind calls for a ceasefire, with around a third of Labour MPs backing the idea.
A number of left-wing Labour MPs are attempting to push a vote on such calls through an amendment to the response to the King’s Speech, which has been endorsed by others including the Green MP Caroline Lucas, Alba’s Kenny MacAskill and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts.
Labour MP Richard Burgon has resubmitted a motion calling for a ceasefire, which last session garnered the support of 91 MPs.
He said: "Thousands of people in Gaza and Israel have already lost their lives in the last month alone.
“Preventing the deaths and suffering of any more civilians must be our top priority.
"The United Nations Secretary-General warned this week that a ceasefire is becoming more urgent with every passing hour.
"Political leaders everywhere need to back his push for a ceasefire.
“Our Government should be using every diplomatic avenue possible and talking to governments of all persuasions to secure a negotiated ceasefire – one binding on all parties – that can help bring an end to this crisis.”
