Statement that reads: LFPME welcomes the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon yesterday. We ask the international community to use every diplomatic channel to hold all parties to this agreement. Since the escalation of Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, more than 2,100 people have been killed and 2.1million displaced. Entire villages have been levelled in tactics that Israeli ministers themselves compare with the razing of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza. This 10 day ceasefire must pave the way to further talks and peaceful negotiation. The £5million in humanitarian relief provided by the UK government to Lebanon is welcome, and it must continue to make it clear to the Israeli government that violence targeting civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable and in breach of international humanitarian law. We must continue to support the structures of international law and call for accountability of violations. No Palestinian, Lebanese or Israeli citizen is made safer by violent escalation.

Full statement 👇 (5/5)

This 10 day ceasefire must pave the way to further talks and peaceful negotiation.

We must continue to support the structures of international law and call for accountability of violations. No Palestinian, Lebanese or Israeli citizen is made safer by violent escalation. (4/5)

The £5million in humanitarian relief provided by the UK government to Lebanon is welcome, and it must continue to make it clear to the Israeli government that violence targeting civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable and in breach of international humanitarian law. (3/5)

Since the escalation of Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, more than 2,100 people have been killed and 2.1million displaced. Entire villages have been levelled in tactics that Israeli ministers themselves compare with the razing of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza. (2/5)

LFPME welcomes the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon yesterday. We ask the international community to use every diplomatic channel to hold all parties to this agreement. (1/5)

“We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.”

A key and important sentence in a welcome joint statement from our government, European countries, Canada and Japan.

The E1 settlement plan is a flagrant breach of international law and critically threatens the viability of a Palestinian state.

Yesterday alongside @caabu.bsky.social & the Britain-Palestine APPG we hosted the Ambassadors of Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan & Saudi Arabia, and representatives from Qatar & the Arab League, for a briefing on the US-Israel war in the Middle East and its impact on the region.

Statement that reads: Unilateral military action by the USA and Israel, and retaliatory strikes by Iran, have set off a regional conflict, leading to mass instability and civilian casualties across the Middle East. We welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to refrain from further UK involvement without lawful justification, a viable plan and Parliamentary agreement. It remains crucial that we focus on de-escalation and negotiation with allies committed to peace, security and the rule of law. We must learn from history that military escalation leads only to long-term instability. The Iranian regime brutally repressed and murdered its own people, and the death of Ayatollah Khamenei will not be mourned. The United Nations Secretary General and our European allies have warned that this military action risks violating international law and have called for de-escalation and the resumption of diplomatic talks. It is crucial we work with them and our regional allies to prioritise peace and stability, not more violence. We urge the government to ensure that any further UK involvement does not breach international law or threaten the security of the UK and its citizens.

LFPME Statement on military escalation in the Middle East 👇

Picture of James Asser MP with the title "co-Chair: LFPME"

Picture of Sarah Owen MP with the title "co-Chair: LFPME"

LFPME welcomes @jamesasser.bsky.social, who is taking on the role of co-Chair alongside @sarahowen.org.uk from this month. 🌹🤝🇵🇸

Statement that reads: *LFPME Statement on Gaza “Board of Peace”* Building a sustainable and lasting peace in Gaza must be led by existing international bodies and within existing frameworks of international law. The US President’s “Board of Peace”, which has been widely criticised by UN member states, is not a solution. It includes no Palestinian representation. In including Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for violations of international law, and whose government and ministers oppose a two-state solution, the Board has shown that it cannot be a vehicle of peace. Netanyahu’s government continues to undermine the UN, recently demolishing UNWRA buildings in East Jerusalem and de-registering international NGOs distributing humanitarian aid. A path forward must respect the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, a two-state solution, and prioritise alleviating the enormous suffering still present in Gaza. It must be rooted in international law and uphold the principles of equality and human rights. Trump’s “Board of Peace” undermines these goals and those working to achieve them. The UK government must redouble its efforts to work with our allies to achieve a genuine and lasting peace that involves representation from Israelis and Palestinians.

Building a strong and lasting peace in Gaza must be led by existing international bodies and within existing frameworks of international law, and must involve Palestinians.

Winter in Gaza is making the need for aid even more urgent - yet the Israeli government has de-registered key NGOs that provide this aid.

I have written to the Middle East Minister alongside our members, to ask what more the UK is doing to ensure innocent civilians urgently get the aid they need.

Today, we honour the memory of all who gave their lives in service to our country, and extend heartfelt thanks to the courageous personnel who continue to serve.

Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Congrats to @lucympowell.bsky.social! You’ve got the guts and the fight in you to help us win again. 🌹

Time to unite, be bold and true to our Labour values.

We're the party that built the NHS, the minimum wage and equal pay.

Labour wins not despite our progressive values, but because of them.

Really delighted to have the support of Labour Friends of Palestine @lfpme.bsky.social Thank you.

Following a decision of our Executive Committee, LFPME is endorsing Lucy Powell to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

You can read Lucy’s statement to us here ⬇️

@lucympowell.bsky.social

Statement from Sarah Owen MP that reads: This morning’s news of a deal being reached for the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza is a moment of hope at a time when endless violence felt inevitable. It will come as an enormous relief for the millions who have been trapped in Gaza and faced endless bombardment from the Israeli military, famine and forced displacement. It will also come as a relief for the hostages and their families. All have endured unimaginable suffering. The plan must now be implemented in full. There must be no delay to an end to the Israeli military’s offensive in Gaza, nor to an immediate increase in aid reaching civilians in Gaza. It must also be the start of a longer process, supported by allies in the region, leading to a two-state solution. May this moment of hope be the start of the end for a war that has caused unconscionable suffering to Palestinians, Israelis and countless others in the Middle East.

This morning’s news of a deal being reached for the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza is a moment of hope at a time when endless violence felt inevitable.

Two years on from the horrific terror attacks of 7th October that resulted in the largest killing of Jewish people since the Holocaust, renewed focus must be placed on peace in the Middle East.

We implore everyone to centre their common humanity and decency at this difficult time.

We need much more of that in our society, and we will only achieve a better shared future by working together and carefully considering each of our individual roles and contributions. [4/4]

This is especially important in light of not only today's events, but also as we approach the second anniversary of the horrific Hamas attacks on October 7th 2023.

The Government is right to step up security and do whatever is required to keep Jewish communities safe. [3/4]

The surge in antisemitism and antisemitic attacks over the last two years is real and it is unacceptable. When Jewish people tell us they feel unsafe - and what makes them feel unsafe - we must all listen. [2/4]

We are sickened by the antisemitic terrorist attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall this morning.

We send our condolences to the loved ones of those killed. We are also sending our thoughts and support to Jewish communities here in the UK. [1/4]

My thoughts are with the victims of the horrendous attack in Crumpsall today, and the whole Jewish community in Manchester and across the UK on Judaism's holiest day, Yom Kippur.

There must never be any place for this sickening violence in our country.

Day 2 at #Lab25 involved…

A meeting with the British Deaf Association to discuss their work on access to BSL 🧏🏻‍♀️

Speaking to @lfpme.bsky.social as we mark our recognition of Palestine 🇵🇸

Celebrating the contributions of British Muslims with Equi 🎂

Looking forward to more today! 🌹

Palestinians are facing an existential moment, and we are under no illusions that this solves everything, not least the suffering in Gaza. We will continue to work with the Government on other levers it can use to do so.
[7/7]

As part of the UK’s work with its allies in recent months, the Palestinian Authority and Arab partners in the region have themselves made this clear.
[6/7]

The Government has rightly been clear that there can be no role for Hamas within this process. They need to release the hostages, disarm, and play no further role.
[5/7]

Not only does it honour Palestinian rights to self-determination, but it strengthens those committed to peace and a two-state solution, including the Palestinian Authority.
[4/7]

Taken in partnership with our closest international allies, it presents a significant step forward in the global response to the crisis in the Middle East and begins a pathway out of the abyss.
[3/7]

We warmly welcome the UK Government’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine, and we are proud that it has finally happened under a Labour Government.
[2/7]