Last weekend Jeff Smith met members of the south Manchester Palestinian community to hear their views about the terrible humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza.

Jeff says; ‘I’d like to thank my constituents who took the time to share their concerns about Gaza, and the way that Parliament and the Labour Party have approached the crisis. It was hard to listen to the stories from relatives of the innocent Palestinian civilians who are suffering in Gaza. We agreed on the need for a ceasefire to protect the civilian population in Gaza – as I called for in Parliament last week, and again this week.

I believe the key question for politicians is how that is achievable, and how the UK can use our position in the international community to help bring this about. The UK government should use all influence it has to persuade the US and Qatari governments to bring pressure on Israel and Hamas respectively to agree a ceasefire and end the fighting.
 
It is a tragedy that the humanitarian truce broke down before sufficient aid could be delivered and the space created for talks to end the violence. If a further truce can be agreed this should be a step to a permanent ceasefire. It is difficult to see a ceasefire lasting unless the hostages still held by Hamas are released, and this needs to be a key priority in negotiations. With already thousands of innocent civilians killed, the international community must continue to demand Israel ends the siege and collective punishment of the people of Gaza.

I’ve raised in Parliament the need to protect innocent civilians; the need for the government to be engaged in a political solution; the dangers of the Israeli actions radicalising people and driving them into supporting extremists; the need to ensure that the Palestinian population are not permanently displaced.

More widely, we need a renewed focus on a long term political solution. Labour will make clear to the Palestinian people that there is a genuine will and determination to finally address their plight in deeds as well as words by recharging diplomacy and efforts for a political path to a two-state solution based on an independent Palestine and a secure Israel.’