After two years of brutal conflict, the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza brings relief and marks the beginning of what must be a healing process.
The release of hostages and prisoners on both sides is a vital first step on the road to peace, and we must ensure it leads towards a two-state solution with a viable Palestine alongside a safe and secure Israel.
I am relieved that I was able to play my part in securing the release of my constituent’s mum, Ada Sagi, in 2023. However the scars of this conflict run deep. Whether it is the Israeli hostages and their families who suffered so much from this horrifying ordeal after being kidnapped, and some killed, by Hamas terrorists
We have witnessed in real time the families in Gaza torn apart by Israel’s devastating bombardment, with so many innocent children killed and many more made disabled . There is unimaginable grief, and the IDF’s inhumane conduct in Gaza will never be forgotten.
At least 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, and we do not yet know the full extent of the destruction. This ceasefire cannot erase that pain, but it allows people to begin to heal.
Gaza must be rebuilt, and land reclaimed. Families whose homes still stand must be allowed to return in dignity, after enduring unimaginable suffering. The kibbutzim that still bear the scars of October 7th must also be rebuilt.
The people of Palestine have lost generations of livelihood and wealth, their farms, their fishing, their land. This heritage cannot simply be replanted or replaced. But this moment must be the foundation for a new beginning, and an opportunity for a Middle East without hate or conflict.
We must recognise the tireless work of all who campaigned for peace, even through their pain. Families of hostages, grassroots activists, international mediators, and ordinary people who refused to give up hope. Their persistence has helped make this progress possible.
I was among the first MPs to vote for a ceasefire on both sides, and some of us faced criticism at the time. We must ensure that we learn the lessons and ask ourselves how we allowed this horrible war to get to this point. Never again should mean never again for everyone.
This deal is far from perfect: the decades-long illegal occupation of Gaza will remain. So, while this ceasefire is a necessary start towards peace, we cannot stop here. We must continue to campaign for a Palestine completely free from Israeli occupation and violence.
This is not the end of the struggle; it is the beginning of a long and difficult journey. But it is a step forward, and we must ensure it leads to a future of dignity and safety for all. I hope my government plays its part in securing an enduring peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.