Call on Merseyside councillors and MPs to speak out about the suffering in the Palestine/Israel conflict - DEMAND A CEASEFIRE BY ALL PARTIES NOW

The unparalleled escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and other armed groups since 7th October has taken a devastating toll on civilians. Having already endured a 16-year illegal seige on Gaza, the current violence has resulted in an unprecedented number of casualties. Countless lives have been shattered and ripped apart and over 2 million Palestinians have been displaced. 

With each day that passes more Palestinian lives are lost and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza worsens. SIGN OUR PETITION NOW to demand that Liverpool councillors and MPs call for an immediate ceasefire by all parties, to end civilian bloodshed and ensure humanitarian aid and access to Gaza.  Demand that your MPs sign up to the UK Parliament’s Early Day Motion 1685 protecting civilians in Palestine and Israel and publicly support the latest UN General Assembly resolution to stop the bloodshed.

Why call for a ceasefire?

Civilian deaths in Gaza continue to rise at a staggering rate amid relentless Israeli aerial bombardment and now a land offensive, reportedly in response to the horrific attacks in Israel by Hamas and other armed groups on 7th October. This resulted in the loss of 1,400 Israelis, the abduction of 200 hostages and ongoing indiscriminate rocket fire putting Israeli civilians at risk. 

To date, more than 9,000 people have been killed as a result of atrocities perpetrated on Gaza, mostly civilians, but including 25 journalists, and 29 aid workers, often in indiscriminate attacks on hospitals and schools where civilians are sheltering or whilst attempting to flee South following Israel’s evacuation order. More than a third of Gaza casualties are children and at least 1,000 bodies are reported to be trapped beneath the rubble. Up to 50,000 pregnant women are at risk of giving birth without support and millions more face further displacement, dispossession and suffering as the land offensive pushes South.

Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip has blocked access for humanitarian support personnel and cut off vital supplies of medicines, food, water, electricity and fuel leaving more than 2 million people struggling to survive. Emergency service and humanitarian personnel have endured 2 internet blackouts since 27th October, preventing communication and medical support getting to those in most need. 

If the international community doesn’t act now to immediately halt the fighting and disproportionate attacks, the humanitarian catastrophe stemming from Israel’s 16-year-long illegal blockade of Gaza will have devastating consequences not just in Gaza and the Occupied Territories but for political stability more widely in the region. 

Serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes, by all parties to the conflict continue unabated and un-investigated, with reports of new weaponry, and phosphorus bombs, being used in recent airstrikes on Gaza. On 28th October, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to call for an immediate “humanitarian truce” in Gaza and demanded “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provisions to aid civilians trapped in the heavily bombarded Palestinian enclave.

Why those in positions of leadership and responsibility must act 

A ceasefire would put a stop to unlawful attacks by all parties, halt the mounting death toll in Gaza and across the Occupied West Bank and enable aid agencies to get life-saving aid, water and medical supplies into the Strip to address the staggering levels of human suffering. It would allow hospitals to receive life-saving medicines, electricity, fuel and equipment they desperately need and to repair damaged wards. 

A ceasefire would also provide opportunities to negotiate the release of hostages detained in Gaza and for independent international investigations to take place into the war crimes committed by all parties in order to end long-standing impunity, which will continue to breed further atrocities. Tackling the root causes of this conflict, by dismantling Israel’s system of apartheid imposed on Palestinians is now more urgent than ever.

What can you do to help? 

SIGN AND SHARE OUR PETITION NOW and demand your local councillors and MPs on Merseyside to call for an immediate ceasefire by all parties and put an end to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.  If you have a local Labour councillor, contact them and urge them to sign the open letter to the Labour leadership calling for a ceasefire.

Demand your MPs sign up to the UK Parliament’s Early Day Motion 1685 protecting civilians in Palestine and Israel and publicly support the latest UN General Assembly resolution.

FOR THE MANY NETWORK & MERSEYSIDE PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION