HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA

Early day motion 112, tabled 4 December 2008 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 106 members.

That this House notes the appalling humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, which UN officials have described as the worst crisis to have befallen the 1.5 million Palestinians of Gaza; further notes that Israel has prevented basic humanitarian supplies from entering the Gaza Strip, including some medicines, clothing for children and essential spare parts; further notes that prohibited items even include some foodstuffs; is extremely concerned that hospitals are running short of fuel supplies, and that this threatens basic health care, including babies in incubators; considers that this blockade is a form of collective punishment in fundamental breach of international law; calls upon the Government to insist on the immediate ending of the blockade of the Gaza Strip both on the Israel-Gaza and Egypt-Gaza borders; and further calls on the Government to support all efforts to bring about a permanenet ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, including a complete cessation of violence by all parties including rocket attacks on Israel and attacks on Gaza by Israeli military forces.

Signatures by party: Labour 60, Liberal Democrat 32, Conservative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 2, Independent Labour 1, Scottish National Party 1.