As we reflect, a year on since the horrific massacres of 7 October and since the hostage taking by Hamas, leaving families bereft, the pathway forward must be a de-escalation in violence.
Today is about marking the anniversary of loss and trauma for so many innocent civilians and the severe suffering that has endured throughout this time. Over 1,200 Israelis killed, over 42,000 Palestinians killed, 20,000 of whom are children, and now over 2,000 Lebanese killed.
The tinderbox geopolitics have blown the hope for peace apart, while the only solution is to lay weapons down, an immediate ceasefire, and to move to urgent talks. As international law is in constant violation, the power of the courts, UN and global political leaders must restrain the forces in the Middle East, as talk of full-scale conflict rises. The insufficiencies in their powers to force terrorists and leaders to be held accountable and stop their actions is evident, and greater focus on diplomatic engagement is essential.
The humanitarian situation is driving even more devastation as medical aid, food and water is restricted, and places to administer life-saving support impossible to access, if they remain in existence at all. The outbreak of avoidable diseases, coupled with malnutrition and starvation, is now affecting those who have survived this far.
While the UK Government, under Labour, has moved to a position for an immediate ceasefire, has curtailed some arms export licenses to Israel and has pushed hard for a stronger humanitarian response to the conflict, more needs to be done to lever pressure on actors to allow for aid to flow and to cease the killing in the region. Our trade and financial flows need greater scrutiny, sanctions must be applied, and proscription of terrorist organisations need urgent attention. Further we need to work with international partners to revisit international legal frameworks to enable the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be upheld and innocent civilians in all jurisdictions to live in peace. If the UK can deploy defence support to prevent the bombing of Israel, it must also prevent the bombing of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, where the death toll from weapons attacks continue to rise.
Everything must be deployed to prevent further tragedy and to bring this conflict to an end, one year on from its commencement. Today must be a day of resolve and reflection, in our pursuit of peace.