THE SNP's Westminster leader has urged MPs to send a “clear and united message” by backing the party’s call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Stephen Flynn highlighted the scale of the devastation to Gaza, saying the death toll and destruction of buildings “does not amount to self-defence”.
He said the ceasefire motion being proposed by the SNP would give MPs the opportunity to say “enough is enough” and join with the “majority of the international community”.
READ MORE: How to watch as MPs set to vote on a ceasefire in Gaza
As MPs prepare to debate the issue, Flynn said: “As it stands, some 60% of buildings in Gaza are either damaged or destroyed, much of the farmland is in ruin, some 30,000 are dead, some 70,000 injured and 1.4 million people are currently sheltering in Rafah awaiting an imminent Israeli onslaught.
“Surely the Prime Minister must accept that does not amount to self-defence?”
Sunak said that he shared concerns about the high rate of civilian casualties and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
But he added: “That is why we have called consistently for an immediate humanitarian pause which would allow the safe release of hostages and more aid going into Gaza so we can create sustainable conditions for a long-term and enduring ceasefire.
“That is what our diplomatic efforts are focused on and that is what I impressed upon the Israeli prime minister last week when I spoke to him.”
Flynn responded by issuing a call to MPs from all parties to support the SNP’s motion on a ceasefire.
He said: “Tonight this House will have the opportunity to join with the majority of the international community and say that enough is enough, that the killing in Gaza must stop, that hostages must be released and the best way to do that is to send a clear and united message that we back an immediate ceasefire.
READ MORE: Labour figures hit out at 'vague' SNP Gaza ceasefire motion
“Surely all of us irrespective of our political allegiance can agree on that very issue?"
However, Sunak (below) argued that while everyone wants to see the “fighting in Gaza end as soon as possible”, a call for an immediate ceasefire risked collapsing “back into fighting within days or weeks”.
He said: “We must work towards a permanent ceasefire and that is why the right approach is the approach we set out and the United States set out in their resolution which is for an immediate humanitarian pause to get hostages out and aid in, so that we then create conditions for a sustainable ceasefire.
“And in the meantime, we are doing everything we can to increase the amount of humanitarian aid that we bring into Gaza.”
Meanwhile, SNP MP Pete Wishart also urged MPs to back his party's motion, saying it was as significant as the vote to go to war with Iraq in 2003 on the "demands of the then Labour government".
He said: "What followed was death, misery and destruction on an almost unimaginable scale.
“Voting against the Iraq war was the vote that I’m most proud of in my time in this House. Today, after 29,000 deaths in Gaza, we face a vote of similar significance.
READ MORE: Pro-ceasefire activists react to Labour U-turn on Palestine
“Does the Prime Minister believe that MPs today should look back with that same pride knowing that they have done everything possible to stop the death, destruction and misery tonight?”
Sunak responded: “Nobody wants to see the fighting in Gaza go on for a moment longer than is necessary.
"Nobody wants to see innocent civilians suffer, and that’s why we’re doing absolutely everything we can to bring about an immediate humanitarian pause, allowing for the safe release of hostages which the honourable gentleman failed to mention, I believe.
“But also getting more aid into Gaza to create the conditions for a genuinely sustainable ceasefire. That is the position that is shared by our allies, that is what our diplomatic efforts are focused on and that’s what our motion tonight will reflect.”
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