British Palestinian MP Calls On Government To Scrap 'BDS Bill' And Back Gaza Ceasefire

Liberal Democrat Layla Moran, who is the only British Palestinian MP in parliament, has said the government's so-called 'BDS bill' should be scrapped and UK politicians should show leadership and call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Moran, who has lost family as a result of the war in Gaza, told PoliticsHome she is feeling "completely despondent" about the current situation in the Middle East. 

Over 23,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza according to the Hamas-run health ministry since the war began on the 7 October, with 85 per cent of its 2.2m strong population displaced. 

The latest round of violence began after Hamas, the terror group governing in Gaza, launched a terror attack on southern Israel which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and hundreds taken hostage. 

"Christmas was a time of personal reflection for all of us who have family there," said Moran, whose family members are Palestinian Christians living in the besieged enclave.

"They are still living hand to mouth in terms of food and water - but as of right now, given that the Israeli army left and didn't come back, they are frankly in a better position than many others.

"What we need desperately is a plan to have an immediate bilateral ceasefire with what happens next, with an eye on two states, and working backwards from there."

Israel claims that Hamas has embedded itself in the civilian population of Gaza, and that Israel is doing all it can to avoid hitting civilians and civilian targets - vowing to "destroy" Hamas in a campaign by land, air, and sea. 

However, women and children continue to be the majority of the death toll in the war and much of Gaza's key infrastructure has been destroyed by Israeli bombs - with health experts warning lack of food and functioning