'Immediate action needed to end systematic genocide and starvation of Gazans' - Cllr Sandra Duffy
British Government's proposed recognition of the State of Palestine welcomed
Derry City and Strabane District councillor Sandra Duffy (Sinn Féin) has welcomed the British Government's announcement it intends to welcome the State of Palestine.
Cllr Duffy added, it "must also take genuine action to end the genocide in Gaza and occupation of all Palestinian Territories".
"Although reluctant and long overdue, the British government’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine is welcome, following in the footsteps of the Irish government, Spain, Norway, and a similar announcement by the French government," said Cllr Duffy.
“But the immediate issue remains: the systematic genocide and starvation of Gazans, daily massacres and atrocities engineered by an out-of-control Israeli regime, and all of this being aided by the US and Britain.
“Thousands of innocent children and families are on the brink of being annihilated due to the use of hunger as a weapon of war against innocents across the Strip. Unfettered humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza on a mass scale immediately.
“The British government must end its complicity in this genocide, stop speaking from both sides of its mouth, and bring real pressure to bear on Israel and the US to deliver an immediate and permanent ceasefire. It can do that by also imposing an immediate arms embargo upon Israel and terminating its funding of the Israeli murder machine.
“These are the steps which Britain must also take to contribute towards a peace settlement that guarantees a free and independent Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, full reconstruction of Gaza, an end to the Israeli system of apartheid, and the release of all political prisoners and hostages.”