Andrew Pakes

Andrew Pakes

Labour (Co-op) — Peterborough

Speaking in the House of Commons on 6 May 2025

Debate

Middle East Update

Contribution

Yet again, the unimaginable horror of what is happening in Gaza has been joined by yet more unacceptable behaviour from the Israeli Government. Let me be clear to the House: the butchers of Hamas could draw this to an end today by releasing the hostages, but that does not make right the starvation and destruction of the Palestinian people in Gaza. A dictionary definition of ethnic cleansing includes the mass expulsion of a people from their land. I ask the Minister two questions. What does he think and how does he feel when he hears Israeli Ministers say: “We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip… Once we occupy…we can talk about sovereignty”? Those of us on the Labour Benches stood on a manifesto commitment to recognise the state of Palestine. If not now, when?

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