The Humanitarian Crisis
The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is a nightmare of unimaginable proportions. The extensive losses and extreme situation are a stark reminder of the urgent need for a bilateral ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need and a more vociferous commitment to establishing a two-state solution to bring about a lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
The Liberal Democrats have taken a principled stance on this crisis by:
- Urging the UK Government to suspend arms exports to Israel where there is a clear risk they could be used in violation of international law.
- Demanding access to legal representation for Palestinians detained without charge or trial.
- Opposing the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and advocating for accountability for violations of international law.
- Supporting the recognition of Palestine as a state, as a step toward a just and lasting two-state solution.
My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I believe that the UK must play a proactive role in promoting peace, justice, and accountability. We urge the Government to take a stronger stance in defending the rights of civilians, journalists, and humanitarian workers in Gaza and across the region.
Journalists
The conflict is becoming one of the deadliest ever recorded for journalists carrying out their vital work. The Liberal Democrats have consistently condemned these killings and called for urgent international action to uphold human rights and press freedom. Journalists are protected under international humanitarian law, and deliberate attacks against them must be unequivocally condemned.
Most recently, on 2nd September I submitted a parliamentary question on this matter, asking about the diplomatic steps being taken to help ensure enforcement of international humanitarian law protections for journalists in Gaza. You can read the question and response here.
Humanitarian assistance and aid
The Israeli government's decision to restrict aid and cut electricity supplies, as well as the banning of UNRWA in the Israeli Knesset, contravenes Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law and dangerously threatens the lives of civilians who depend entirely on humanitarian assistance following long months of conflict. Israel must reopen humanitarian aid routes into Gaza.
We are demanding that the Government does everything in its power, urgently, to enable aid to reach those whose lives depend on it in Gaza, to ensure the UK is not complicit in the grotesque use of starvation as a tool of war by the Netanyahu Government. I, and my colleagues, recently signed EDM 1772: Humanitarian situation in Gaza, tabled by Ed Davey on 1st September.
Additionally, as a Party, we have consistently called on the Government to put pressure on Israel to reopen aid routes. During a debate in the House of Commons on 18th March, our Defence Spokesperson Helen Maguire MP said: “The Israeli Government’s decision to block the supply of aid into Gaza and their cutting of the electricity supply are unlawful and must be unequivocally condemned.”
On 20th March, Helen raised this issue again in a response to a statement by the Foreign Secretary, asking: “The Foreign Secretary stated that Israel’s aid blockade was a ‘breach’ of international law. Will he confirm that this remains his position?”
On 20th June, I asked the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Hamish Falconer MP, whether he had had discussions with his Israeli counterparts on reports of Israeli soldiers opening fire on civilians accessing aid distribution centres in Gaza.
Ultimately, it is clear that the current system for distributing aid in Gaza has been an abject failure; it is dangerous, ineffective and insufficient. The case of the Madleen and subsequent freedom flotillas, including the Global Sumud Flotilla, highlight the vital importance of securing the reopening of humanitarian corridors to Gaza, under the auspices of the UN. To this effect I have signed EDM 1782: Global Sumud Flotilla.
Medical staff and health workers
The work of doctors, nurses, and other medical staff in Gaza is vital to saving lives and protecting the region for the future. It is essential that they are allowed to carry on their work in peace and safety, with access to the equipment they need.
The Liberal Democrats support calls to allow entry of medical staff to the Gaza Strip as well as to increase the volume of aid entering. We have continued to be vocal on this issue in Parliament. Calum Miller, our Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, asked the following in the Chamber on 7th January:
“We need to see action from the Government in the face of a dreadful and worsening situation. At the end of December, Israeli forces closed Kamal Adwan, the last functional hospital in northern Gaza, forcibly removed patients and detained its director Dr Abu Safiya. The Minister said that he has raised this matter with the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and the ambassador, but what consequences did he spell out to them if Israel fails to meet its obligations to protect civilians and sustain access to healthcare in northern Gaza?”
Since March, Israel’s expansion of the war in Gaza - including striking a UN medical facility, displacing civilians, and remarks from the Israeli Defence Minister calling for the seizure of large swathes of territory - have also been gravely disturbing. Medical personnel in Gaza must be protected under international humanitarian law and allowed to carry out their life-saving work without interference. The targeting of medical facilities and obstruction of medical supplies violates the Geneva Conventions and must cease immediately.
Evacuation of children
Following a cross-party letter by Dr Simon Opher in August 2025, on the evacuation of children from Gaza for medical treatment, a cross-government taskforce is now working urgently to bring sick and injured children from Gaza so they can receive this treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK.
The letter urged the Prime Minister “to recognise the real urgency of medical evacuations and act on some of the barriers that are preventing the very sickest children from being evacuated from Gaza”.
We absolutely support the UK Government’s decision to allow more critically injured Palestinian children to be evacuated to this country for medical care. But we also recognise that this affects only a very small number of individuals; there are still thousands of young people and families in Gaza, as well as the remaining Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, for whom it is absolutely vital that this war is brought to an end.