• I COMMEND all those who have resigned from the Labour Party recently over its stance on the Israel/Hamas situation.

I have been a Labour Party member for over 30 years. I resigned once during the war on Iraq. I rejoined to support Ed Miliband.

I campaigned in the last election, walking door-to-door with Sir Keir Starmer. But I resigned again when I heard Sir Keir, along with the prime minister, condoned the cutting off water, electricity, food and medicine from the over two million civilian population of Gaza.

The whole area is being flattened. Those who survive the attacks will have lost everything and are likely to live in United Nations tents for the rest of their lives.

While the attack by Hamas on October 7 was horrific, and rightfully condemned by everyone, Israel’s ongoing, cruel, revenge is totally disproportionate and breaks international law.

Thousands have been killed and injured, nearly 10,000 people, over 60 per cent of which are women and children.

Many more thousands have lost their homes. An aid worker in Israel told me this week she was hearing explosions in Gaza every 30 seconds.

Since this catastrophe began in Gaza the Israelis have also been killing Palestinians and taking over their homes on the West Bank. This is barely reported in the media.

Last Saturday I went on the Gaza peace march in London, young and old demonstrators, walking alongside many Jewish and Muslim individuals and families. Two Israeli friends accompanied me.

One Jewish man I spoke with told me: “It is our tradition to side with the oppressed, not the oppressor. That is why I am here.”

In Israel more and more people do not want to live in such a cruel apartheid system.

Why do western governments support it? Please, Sir Keir Starmer, condemn Israel’s collective punishment of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and call for a ceasefire before more innocent people are killed.

JOSEPHINE SIEDLECKA
Southampton Road, NW5