The Equality Party stands in unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank as they endure one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history—driven directly by the ongoing and deliberate actions of the Israeli government.
Over 50,000 lives have been lost in Gaza— including thousands of children. More than 115,000 people have been injured, many suffering life-altering wounds. The Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues relentlessly, compounding the devastation with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The Israeli government has obstructed the delivery of vital humanitarian aid, including essential food and medicine, while cutting off electricity needed for water purification and healthcare systems.
As the occupying power, Israel is legally bound by international law to ensure the welfare of the civilian population in Gaza. It is failing to do so.
Today, 95% of Gaza’s hospitals are non-functional. Over 91% of the population faces extreme food insecurity. Every single educational institution has been partially or completely destroyed. Over 1.9 million people (90% of the population) have been displaced. Of these, more than 660,000 are children, now living among the rubble with no access to education. The average life expectancy of a Palestinian in Gaza has plummeted from 75 years to now only 40 years.
This is genocide. It is the collective punishment of over two million people, the majority of whom are women and children. There are no circumstances that can justify this action.
The UK government under Keir Starmer has been too slow and too cautious in the face of mass civilian suffering. By prioritising political interests over human rights, the Government has undermined its commitment to justice and turned its back on the Palestinian people.
The Time for Action is Now
The Equality Party demands that the UK Government:
- Immediately suspends the export of UK arms and manufacturing components to Israel.
- Continues UK aid support for Palestine and fully cooperates with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to address the escalating humanitarian catastrophe.
- Complies with International Law and ends all UK trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
- Imposes trade and economic sanctions to put pressure on Israel to comply with International Law.
Furthermore, the Equality Party calls on the international community to exert pressure for:
- An immediate ceasefire to put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
- The lifting of the Israeli aid blockade to allow vital food, water, fuel, and medical supplies into Gaza.
- The enforcement of international law, including full respect for the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal.
The Equality Party believes the path to a just and lasting peace is one rooted in international law, equal rights, and human dignity. The UK must work with the international community to end the conflict and bring about a future free from occupation, violence, and oppression.
References/sources:
- https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-167-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-jerusalem
- https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9900/
- https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)02810-1/abstract
- https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154496
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