Gaza Update

Before parliament broke up for summer recess I wrote to both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary calling for immediate recognition of the State of Palestine and for firmer UK action against Israel.

In the first week back of the new parliamentary term, I have raised my voice in parliament to condemn the suffering of the people of Gaza, to raise concern over the fate of the Israeli hostages and to  call for further UK action against the war-hungry Netanyahu administration.

I raised the concerns of many of my constituents on Monday 1^st September during a statement by the Foreign Secretary to the chamber. I asked the Foreign Secretary to take the descriptions of genocide taking place in Gaza into account when considering the next steps against the Israeli government:

‘I thank the Foreign Secretary for his statement and for his stamina over the past two hours. I assure him that the horror of the unfolding famine in Gaza and concern about the future of the hostages are felt just as strongly on the Atlantic coast of Scotland as they are on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean. International experts have rightly described what is going on in Gaza as a genocide. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, today described it as a genocide. Will such sentiments inform our next round of sanctions against Netanyahu’s Government?’

The next day,  Tuesday 2^nd September,  I asked a further question of the Foreign Secretary in the chamber, highlighting concerns about the illegal targeting of journalists reporting in Gaza by the IDF.

‘I reiterate the concerns raised last night by my fellow journalist and hon. Friend the Member for Earley and Woodley (Yuan Yang) in highlighting Gaza as the deadliest war for journalists. Over 189 have been killed since October 2023, despite being categorised as protected civilians under international law. Israel seems set on a deadly campaign to silence journalists in Gaza while refusing entry to other international journalists. Can the Secretary of State join me in condemning that strategy and in paying tribute to those who are risking their lives to get news out of Gaza, and commend our own domestic broadcasters—including the much-maligned BBC—for keeping us informed on what is going on there?’

Whenever possible I have raised my voice as a backbench MP to express the justified outrage and dread of island constituents over the unfolding famine in Gaza.

In addition, I have held well-attended meetings in Lewis and in Uist with concerned constituents who have requested to talk to me.  I am heading to another meeting in Uist this week (w/c 8th September 2025) on the issue. My priority on this and every other issue to be as accessible as possible and to keep constituents and members informed.

I am heartened by the steps taken by the UK government, following appeals from hundreds of backbench Labour MPs, to formally recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly and to take firmer sanctions action against the Israeli administration.

The aim of the Labour government is to ensure that a lasting peace can be agreed so that the Palestinian people can live freely in a viable and safe independent state of their own.

MP in plea for action over Gaza crisis