Lammy calls for ‘humanitarian access to Gaza, for food, medicines and electricity’
The shadow foreign secretary made his intervention after meeting with communal leaders in Golders Green, along with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Labour’s David Lammy has called for the opening of “humanitarian access to Gaza, for food, water, medicines and electricity.”
In a significant intervention the shadow foreign secretary reiterated that Labour “fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself, rescue hostages and protect civilians, in line with international law.”
But he added:”We must distinguish Hamas terrorists from the Palestinian people. There must be humanitarian access to Gaza, for food, water, medicines and electricity.”
Lammy’s statement came on the same day he had met with representatives from the Jewish community in Golders Green alongside shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Jewish News understands that significant voices within the community had been among those to speak with both Lammy and Cooper over the past 24 hours to discuss Labour’s response to the growing humanitarian issues in Gaza as Israel uses force to strike back on Hamas in response to their terrorist atrocities.
Ever since the despicable attacks of last weekend Labour has come out strongly in support of Israel and of its right to defend itself and strike back at Hamas.
But at a fringe event at Labour conference Lammy prepared the way for Thursday’s statement when he “condemned the “terrorist” attacks by Hamas, but said Israel’s response must be proportional and “in line with international law”.
“I agree with President Macron when he said we must not confuse the fight against terrorism, with the most elementary humanitarian support for civilian populations,” Lammy added.
“There needs to be humanitarian access and supplies to Gaza. We must distinguish between Hamas and the Palestinian people because failure to do so would only embolden the terrorists and punish the wrong people.
“There will not be a just and lasting peace until Israel is secure, Palestine is a sovereign state and both Israelis and Palestinians enjoy security, dignity and human rights.”
Israel has threatened to continue to strike at Hamas in Gaza until the 150 hostages who were taken into the strip during the terrorist group’s deadly attacks that killed 1,300 people, are released.
More than 1,400 have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, including several hundred terrorists.
But the situation in Gaza is “dire”, with food and water running out during an Israeli siege, according to the UN’s World Food Programme.
Gaza is relying on generators after its only power station ran out of fuel, but Israel stressed its blockade will not end until the hostages are released
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