British Palestinian MP Senses Public Pressure On Gaza Is "Working"

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has said that she believes public pressure is “working”, as “new faces” in Parliament have begun to challenge the UK government’s approach to the conflict in Gaza.

Moran, who is the only UK MP of Palestinian descent, has family members who are still trapped in Gaza and has been calling for an immediate ceasefire since last autumn. 

“Public pressure is working: I've noticed the change in tone in Parliament, particularly the number of Conservative backbenchers who are raising concerns they have over famine [in Gaza],” she said.

“They want a ceasefire and they're raising their heads above the parapet and actually, all power to them – we need this to be cross-party and that helps.”

The Lib Dem MP said that a debate in Parliament on the situation in Gaza on Tuesday had seen “new faces on the Tory benches” and a large number of Labour MPs challenging the government.

“Now that both parties have, in their own way, started calling for a ceasefire and they're dancing on the head of the pin about what to call it, that’s given people cover to be able to say what they need to say,” she said.

Mark Pritchard, Sara Britcliffe, Kit Malthouse were among Tory MPs who raised concerns with Foreign Minister Andrew Mitchell over the government’s approach in Parliament on Tuesday.

“Every life matters, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, another faith or no faith,” Pritchard said.

“The Minister will know that I have been supportive of the Government, and that I will continue to be, but I hope he will note a change in tone. The figures vary, but it is estimated that 30,000 civilians and roughly 10,000 Hamas terrorists have been killed in Gaza. 

“If it is true that 10,000 other terrorists are despicably hiding in Rafah among