This is Barry Gardiner's reponse to an email to Keir Starner and copied to him, part of which said:
In the north of Gaza, Israel is transforming whole neighbourhoods into mass graves. Densely populated areas are under relentless attack. Bodies are left lying on the roads or under the rubble. Israel is firing on Palestinians attempting to rescue the injured or retrieve the dead. Since the start of the month, no food or medicines have been allowed in and all attempts to provide humanitarian assistance are denied. Schools and hospitals serving as evacuation centres are deliberately destroyed to drive out the population. Everyone expects to be killed at any moment. The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has written that ‘the smell of death is everywhere.’
These barbaric horrors cannot be allowed to continue. You must not remain silent in the face of such atrocities. I urge you to take immediate action and use every possible lever to pressure Israel to halt its liquidation of the north of Gaza.
Barry Gardiner responded:
Thank you for your recent email concerning the continuing tragedy unfolding in Gaza.
Since the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7th and the unjustifiable seizure of hostages, the situation in Gaza has become intolerable. Children are starving, the healthcare system is being dismantled and approximately 40,000 people have been killed. 70% of the civilian infrastructure – homes, schools, hospitals, and places of worship have all been destroyed.
On Thursday, October 10th I made a speech in Westminster Hall where I laid out the UK’s current failings in line with international law. I argued that in order to abide by our commitment to the international rule of law the UK must recognise the state of Palestine and ensure that we as a nation do not support or condone the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories. You can watch and read this speech here: https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-in-the-commons
Earlier this year I welcomed the foreign secretary David Lammy’s call for a ceasefire and reinstatement of funding for UNWRA, and pressured him to end arms sales to Israel. Watch this here: https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-in-the-commons/what-are-the-government-doing-to-pressure-the-israeli-government-on-human-rights
As I have said in my previous letters, the situation is so fast-moving that it is difficult to summarise events and their consequences in an email without the risk of being out of date by the time it is read. That is why I have always tried to set out the principles upon which I base my judgements and decisions, rather than simply responding to each twist and turn of events.
You will know that:
I was the first Member of Parliament to go on the media to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
I have also been constant in demanding the removal of all restrictions on humanitarian aid, and the need to uphold international law.
I have insisted upon the unconditional release of all hostages and illegally detained people.
I spoke out in advance against the offensive by the IDF in Rafah, and predicted it would be a humanitarian catastrophe.
I demanded the reinstatement and restoration of funding to UNWRA.
I called for a visa scheme that can provide a safe route to reunite Palestinians in Gaza with their family members here in the UK.
I have written to the former Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary demanding that the UK stop arms sales to Israel which are in danger of making our country complicit in breaches of international law and what the ICJ has described as “plausible risk” of war crimes.
Here in Britain, the former President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Baroness Hale of Richmond, along with 1,100 lawyers, legal academics and former members of the judiciary, signed a joint legal opinion indicating that suspending funding to UNRWA puts the UK in breach of its international obligations to prevent genocide. The government must immediately do all it can to help aid get into Gaza and this includes reinstating funding for the UNWRA now.
The importance of the International Court of Justice cannot be overestimated. The ICJ has ruled that South Africa has brought a plausible case that the people of Palestine need to be protected against genocide and that as such, their rights are at risk of irreparable damage. I support the court’s rulings and call for Israel to implement the provisional measures that the ICJ has demanded.
I signed the Early Day Motion 177 and have advocated for it on the mainstream media. You can access my most recent statements in relation to the ICJ here: https://vimeo.com/943986809?share=copy
You can also read the letter I co-signed with my colleague Zarah Sultana here: https://twitter.com/zarahsultana/status/1772898790053155083
As the situation has worsened in Gaza, we have seen increasing breaches of international law in the West Bank. The increase in settler violence against Palestinians, demolition of their homes and property, and the deliberate and systematic spread of Israeli settlements appears to be part of a deliberate campaign to annexe more and more Palestinian land in the West Bank, making the settlements a fait acompli. That is why I have always called for a restriction on settlement goods being imported into the UK.
The need for emergency visa schemes to get people out of an active warzone is one I have always supported – whether it be for civilians in Ukraine, Afghanistan or Gaza. The UK must do all it can to allow families to reunite in safety. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK government introduced the Ukraine Family Scheme. The government must now do the same for the Palestinians.
Finally I have signed a letter to the former Foreign Secretary urging him to respect the International Criminal Court and not allow its work to be undermined If you would like to discover more about my responses as the situation has unfolded since October 7 2023, you can visit my website where you will also find links to my appearances on the Today Programme, ITV News, BBC Politics Live, Politics Joe and more.
In all these interviews I make it clear that a ceasefire is the only way to move the situation forward and that the UK must not be complicit in breaches of international law.
You can find these by clicking on the links here:
https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-on-the-box/israel-gaza-war-barry-will-vote-for-a-ceasefire-today
https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-on-the-box/we-must-take-moral-leadership-and-negotiate-a-ceasefire
https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-on-the-box/why-barry-will-vote-for-a-ceasefire-today
My original letter to constituents following October 7th is also there: https://www.barrygardiner.com/policy-responses/israel-gaza-war-15th-october-2023
Sincerely,
Barry Gardiner
Member of Parliament for Brent West
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