Sunak and Starmer have "gone quiet" as UK dodges responsibilities
The SNP has warned "the UK government is failing the people
of Gaza by dodging its responsibility to help secure an immediate
ceasefire" - one month on from the SNP's ceasefire Opposition
Day.
Marking a month since Westminster blocked a vote on the SNP
motion for an immediate ceasefire, and then blocked a debate
on a fresh SNP motion on the concrete actions needed to achieve
one, said " and Sir have gone quiet on the issue.
The UK government and Westminster parliament has lost
interest and failed to take the action needed to help make an
immediate ceasefire happen".
Following the chaos over the vote, the SNP sought to table a
fresh motion mandating the UK government to immediately end arms
sales to Israel, and use its position on the UN security council
to press and vote for an immediate ceasefire but the motion was
blocked.
Despite reaching out to Sir before tabling both motions,
no reply has ever been received.
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader said:
"The UK government is failing the people of Gaza by dodging its
responsibility to help secure an immediate ceasefire - while
thousands of innocent men, women and children are killed.
"A month has passed since Westminster blocked a vote on the SNP
motion for an immediate ceasefire, and and Sir have gone quiet on the
issue.
"The UK government and Westminster parliament has lost interest
and failed to take the action needed to help make an
immediate ceasefire happen.
"Moreover,
they have failed to use their voice on the UN
Security Council to call for a vote on an immediate
ceasefire, and to end arm sales to Israel. This must be done
without delay.
"More than 30,000 Palestinian men, women and children have now
been killed and the people of Gaza are on the brink of famine
during Ramadan.
"It's shameful that Westminster blocked a vote on the action
needed to secure an immediate ceasefire - and since then, the UK
government has continued down the same failed path of
equivocation, letting Benjamin Netanyahu off the hook and leaving
Palestinians to suffer.
"How many more children and innocent civilians need to be shot,
bombed or starved to death before Westminster finally changes
course and chooses to act?"
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Copy of the SNP SO24 emergency motion - Monday 26th February and
the SNP immediate ceasefire motion on Wednesday 21st February
Standing Order 24 - Monday 26th February
That this House officially reaffirms its position, as of 21st
February 2024, to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and
Israel; further reaffirms its horror at the October 7th 2023
terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent collective
punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza; demands the release
of all hostages taken by Hamas; condemns any military assault on
the 1.5 million refugees sheltering in Rafah; further demands the
Government immediately halts all transfers of military equipment
and technology, including components, to Israel, and to suspend
the issuing of new licences; calls on the international community
to ensure the rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided
in Gaza; further calls for an end to settlement expansion and
violence; urges Israel to comply with the International Court of
Justice’s provisional measures; and urges all international
partners to work together to establish a diplomatic process to
deliver the peace of a two-state solution; recognises that
statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and
not in the gift of any neighbour; instructs the Government to
vote for an immediate ceasefire, or wording with that effect,
during the next relevant motion brought before the United Nations
Security Council.
Text of SNP opposition day motion - Wednesday 21st
February
Ceasefire in Gaza
That this House calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and
Israel; notes with shock and distress that the death toll has now
risen beyond 28,000, the vast majority of whom were women and
children; further notes that there are currently 1.5 million
Palestinians sheltering in Rafah, 610,000 of whom are children;
also notes that they have nowhere else to go; condemns any
military assault on what is now the largest refugee camp in the
world; further calls for the immediate release of all hostages
taken by Hamas and an end to the collective punishment of the
Palestinian people; and recognises that the only way to stop the
slaughter of innocent civilians is to press for a ceasefire now.
