Statement: A step forward on the Gaza Peace Plan

Today marks the first real progress for the Gaza Peace Plan, with not only a ceasefire, but also the release of hostages and detainees. This moment is so welcome and so hard-won. 

There will be so many victimised and traumatised families in Gaza, all breathing a sigh of relief today, alongside the families of the hostages in Israel. These families are waiting to see if all our hopes are realised, and we wait with them. 

There is no doubt that the toll of this war will take many years to recover from, but this hopefully marks the start of a new chapter where everyone can begin to heal.

While this ceasefire process seems more secure than the previous attempt in January this year, it will be a constant challenge to keep it on track. I remain very concerned about the possibility of ceasefire violations and collapse in the coming days after the first stage is completed. Unrestricted aid must now flow into Gaza as promised.

UK diplomats are now hard at work with our Arab and European partners to try to ensure the second phase begins and the ceasefire holds, but we must understand how fragile the situation remains.

It is far from clear that the Netanyahu government in Israel is solidly behind the peace process as a whole. Even if the ceasefire holds in Gaza in the weeks and months to come, peace requires far more. It requires support to build the capacity of non-violent and representative Palestinian leadership, and it requires a political shift in Israel away from the extremists who reject peace. It requires settlement construction plans to be halted, and trust to be built so that two states can live side by side.

I believe this moment has been accomplished by both diplomacy and pressure, and both will be no less vital for the next steps towards a permanent and just peace. So many people across the world, including in Leyton and Wanstead, have played a part in bringing about this moment, when hope is again possible.

Finally, I want to note that our Jewish community is reeling after the Manchester Synagogue, as is our Muslim community after the arson attack on the Peacehaven Mosque. The appalling violence of the past two years has created a space that extremists are exploiting, but the solidarity I have seen over the past two weeks from local faith leaders and our councils is the antidote. Division, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia – hatred will not win if we continue to stand together for peace.

Thank you for to all the constituents who have continued to engage with me and doing your part within our democratic system. I will continue to do mine.