Labour MP for Southampton ItchenGaza

Gaza

John Denham sent this letter to people concerned about the situation in Gaza (28/01/09)

Dear Constituent

Now that Israel has halted its military operations in Gaza, and Hamas has stopped its rockets, I thought it might be a good time to write to set out my thoughts, and those of the Government, on the conflict as I know many people here in Southampton are deeply concerned about it.

From the outset of the conflict the UK has called and worked for an immediate ceasefire. The UK drafted and proposed UN Security Resolution 1860. While I am hugely relieved that a ceasefire is now in place, it has taken far too long to happen and has come too late for the many casualties. In the twenty-two days of the Israeli offensive over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed, many more injured, countless thousands displaced, and critical infrastructure destroyed.

The UK has urged Israel to complete the withdrawal of its troops from Gaza with all due speed. It has also called on Hamas to end its rocket fire at Israel. The Prime Minister travelled to Sharm el Sheikh and Israel to join with other world leaders in starting to embed that ceasefire and ensure it becomes the durable and fully respected ceasefire that Britain and the United Nations Security Council have called for.

The immediate priority is to meet the desperate humanitarian needs. The Government has made £27 million available to help the UN and other aid agencies deal with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza - to supply food and medicine and other needs as well as to help repair Gaza's ruined infrastructure and return power and water. The Prime Minister made clear in Egypt and in Israel that reopening the crossings will be vital.

My colleague Douglas Alexander (the Secretary of State for International Development) wrote to the broadcasters who had refused to support the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Crisis Appeal and expressed disappointment at their decision. In his letter Douglas accepted that the decision was one to be taken by broadcasters but urged them to reconsider in light of the great human suffering still taking place in Gaza. The BBC issued a statement on Friday night, refusing to reconsider. On Saturday, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 agreed to air the appeal on Monday (yesterday) night. But Sky announced on Monday that they would not reverse their decision.

The UK Government continues to work with all relevant parties to make progress on the Middle East Peace Process. Both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority have responsibilities to fulfil under their Roadmap obligations - re-affirmed last November in Annapolis - in order for the process to move forward. The UK continues to advocate a peace process that leads to two sovereign states - Israel and Palestine – living side-by-side, within secure borders and at peace with their neighbours.

The UK has consistently called for Israel to dismantle its settlements in the occupied territories, which are illegal. We have long made it clear to the Israeli government, at every opportunity, that Israeli settlement activity is not only illegal under international law, it is also in contravention of Israel's obligations under the Roadmap as agreed by Israel and the Palestinians and is detrimental to the peace process. But settlement activity has continued. So we are now looking at what effective action we can take against settlements.

As the Foreign Secretary said this week, "there is a political imperative to re-establish the unity of the Palestinian people under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority. I continue to be convinced that the division of Palestinian political authority needs to be addressed". Egypt and the Arab League continue to mediate between the Palestinian factions, but the aim must be a strong Palestinian Authority, speaking for all Palestinians and committed to achieving the two state solution through peaceful means.

Yours sincerely

John Denham MP

Southampton Itchen

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