I am delighted that a ceasefire has been agreed and the bombardment of Gaza is to stop, at least temporarily. There can be no justification for the brutal approach taken by the Government of Israel: genocide, as it has been rightly identified in in the International Criminal Court is never justified.

Let’s hope that we can have further dialogue that leads to the two state solution for Palestine The people of Palestine, and in particular the children, have suffered enough. It is now time for a peace process to start.

There can be no justification, in any religion of none, for some of the actions of Hamas in October 2023 and before, but there can neither be any justification for the targeting and slaughter of civilians, healthcare workers and journalists. Such actions in the past have never even resulted in success for the aggressors, and generally only perpetuate the cycle of violence.

I continue to support the rights of the Palestinian people and I support a boycott on goods from the occupied territories (I would support the passing of the Occuped Territories Bill). I also support international sanctions against the state of Israel, but in particular against good which are produced in the occupied territories.

Solidarity with the people of Palestine, and also with the ordinary people of Israel, many of whom I believe would be happy to coexist peacefully with their neighbours.