Approximately 60 British Labour MPs have urged the UK government to immediately recognize the Palestinian state and halt what they labeled as “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, according to The Guardian.
Rafah Plan
A group of centrist and left-wing MPs write a letter this week to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy asking him to act immediately to stop Israel’s reported plan to establish a so-called “humanitarian city” of tents in the ruins of Rafah, in southern Gaza.
“By not recognizing [Palestine] as a state, we undermine our own policy of a two-state solution and set an expectation that the status quo can continue and see the effective erasure and annexation of Palestinian territory,” the letter said.
The MPs also described the plan as “ethnic cleansing” warning that such a move means the forcible transfer of civilians and the erasure of Palestinian presence as well.
“It is with great urgency and concern that we are writing to you regarding the Israeli Defense Minister’s announcement on Monday of his plans to forcibly transfer all Palestinian civilians in Gaza to a camp in the ruined city of Rafah without allowing them to leave,” the letter added.
Five Measures
In this context, the 59 MPs introduced five different measures for the government to stop the Israeli government from carrying out its Rafah plan.
Organized by Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East group, the letter requests ministers to take five different measures to ensure the following:
- Recognizing the state of Palestine
- Supporting the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)
- Securing the release of hostages
- Pressing for the full and unhindered resumption of humanitarian aid
- Fully reviewing and placing restrictions on trade with and financial support of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank
Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 137,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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