The pressing issue of Gaza

A number of my constituents have written to me about what's happening in Gaza. A commenter on this blog also mentioned that I should post on big issues like Gaza and not smaller community issues. While I still feel that this blog is largely for keeping people in touch with what's going on in Edmonton and what I'm doing about it, I take all comments on board and will post a bit more about the Westminster aspect to my role as an MP.

You may have noticed that I have already included a few posts on debates I have been involved in in the House of Commons. On Gaza specifically, at the very beginning of 2009 I signed a letter published in The Guardian newspaper calling on the international community to "stop the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza" and for both sides to cease fire.

Since then, I have continued to press the issue. On Monday, this is what I said to Foreign Secretary David Miliband in the House of Commons:

"May I seek some reassurance from my right. hon. Friend regarding the opening of border crossings to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza? He has already said that the situation is being monitored in terms of the number of vehicles going in, but can he assure the House that he is taking every active step possible to ensure that Israel recognises its international obligations and tries to make up for some of the considerable damage that it has done to its own reputation?"

The Foreign Secretary responded by assuring me that, alongside his colleagues, he was doing everything in his power to ensure that no more people lose their lives as a result of the humanitarian situation. I too will carry on doing what I can to push for a solution to this crisis.