The SNP has written to Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer and Speaker Lindsay Hoyle demanding an immediate recall of the UK parliament following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza aid workers, which killed seven people, including three UK citizens.
The SNP has repeatedly called for the UK government and parliament to do more to secure an immediate ceasefire, including by ending arms sales to Israel.
In February, Westminster blocked a debate and vote on an SNP motion calling for an immediate end to arms sales.
In his letter today, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP writes:
“Dear Rishi, Sir Keir, Lindsay,
“I am writing to you to demand an immediate recall of the UK Parliament over the deaths of three UK citizens killed in an Israeli strike on aid workers in Gaza.
“As you know, the SNP has been calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel since October last year. We have repeatedly urged the UK government to do more to secure an immediate ceasefire, including by ending arms sales to Israel.
“Our call to end arms sales to Israel has been repeatedly rejected by the UK government and the Labour Party, despite the overwhelming evidence that Israel is breaching international law through its indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza and its collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
“This is an unforgivable decision. To date, more than 100,000 Palestinian children, women and men have been killed or injured. Huge swathes of Gaza have been obliterated, including hospitals, refugee camps and family homes. Around two million Palestinians have been displaced and many are on the brink of starvation.
“With three UK citizens among those killed in the Israeli strike on World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers, it is essential that the UK Parliament is recalled immediately. This situation demands that the Prime Minister comes to parliament without further delay to outline the UK government’s response to the killing of UK citizens by Israel, to enable MPs to scrutinise the UK government’s response, and so that Parliament can finally debate and vote on ending arms sales to Israel.
“There can be no question that the killing of UK citizens requires Parliament to be recalled now.
“I look forward to your response,
“Stephen Flynn MP
“SNP Westminster Leader”
