Wes Streeting asks colleagues to explain how Hamas would accept Gaza ceasefire
The shadow health secretary issued a statement after a group of pro-Palestine campaigners, led by a Momentum activist expelled from Labour, staged a demonstration outside the MP's office in Ilford North on Sunday.
Wes Streeting has demanded to know how colleagues in the Labour Party currently calling for a ceasefire in Gaza envisage one coming about.
The shadow health secretary issued a statement after a group of pro-Palestine campaigners, led by a Momentum activist expelled from Labour, staged a demonstration outside the MP’s office in Ilford North on Sunday.
Syed Siddiqi drew widespread condemnation after posting a picture of the protest online and calling for Streeting to “step aside” along with the Free Palestine hashtag.
Responding, Streeting condemned the killing of innocent men, women and children since the October 7th Hamas massacre on all sides.
But he issued a staunch defence of Keir Starmer’s position on opposing calls currently for a ceasefire adding:”Hamas have said through their spokespeople in the media they intend to carry out similar attacks again and again until Israel is destroyed.
“That is why Israel’s right to defence extends to taking out Hamas’s capacity to inflict further harm.”
He also wrote of colleagues calling for a ceasefire, “I’d like to know how they’d envisage such a ceasefire coming about.”
In politics, it can be too easy to reach for slogans, especially to please the crowd, but it’s our responsibility to reach for real solutions.
My update to constituents this evening on why I am supporting the international effort to deliver a humanitarian pause ???????? pic.twitter.com/wdVqvobNjI
— Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) November 5, 2023
Streeting added:”In politics, it can be too easy to reach for slogans, especially to please the crowd, but it’s our responsibility to reach for real solutions.
“My update to constituents this evening on why I am supporting the international effort to deliver a humanitarian pause.”
On Sunday the leader of Burnley borough council resigned along with 10 other councillors in protest at Starmer’s refusal to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Afrasiab Anwar, a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, was backed by half of the Labour councillors in Burnley with his move.
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