Thank you to everyone who has contacted me concerning the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

The war in Gaza must end now, with an immediate ceasefire. We must see vital aid flow unimpeded into Gaza, Hamas must release the hostages and any further escalation in the region must be prevented.

Israel’s military campaign has led to intolerable death and destruction. I am gravely concerned by Israel’s continued actions which undermine prospects for peace. Expansion of settlements, in clear violation of international law, must cease immediately. Israel must bring an end to its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as rapidly as possible.

The Government has already restored funding to UNWRA, overturning the last government’s suspension, and has reaffirmed the importance of supporting the independence of the ICC and ICJ. The Government has also announced £5.5m in new funding for field hospitals and medical aid in Gaza through UK-Med, provided £6 million to UNICEF to support families in Gaza, matched donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee Middle East Humanitarian Appeal to help provide vital supplies, announced new joint funding plans with Kuwait to help UNICEF deliver lifesaving aid to almost 2.5 million people in Gaza and Yemen, provided £1 million of assistance to Egyptian health authority to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza, led international demands for an urgent programme of vaccinations for polio and helped to fund the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and convened an emergency session of the UN Security Council to press Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Northern Gaza.

Labour supports a two-state solution – an independent Palestine alongside a secure Israel. This must be achieved by working with international partners to recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to, rather than outcome of, that process. Statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour.

Thank you once again to all those who have contacted me about this important issue.