SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has called for an immediate recall of parliament following Israeli air strikes on Gaza aid workers which killed seven people, including three UK citizens.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Flynn demanded parliament be recalled for MPs "to scrutinise the UK Government’s response" and ensure a debate and vote can be had "on ending arms sales to Israel".
Three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian died when the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse on Monday.
The attack has drawn international condemnation of what Israel called an “unintended strike”, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak telling his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu he was appalled by the killings and demanding a thorough and transparent independent investigation.
READ MORE: Channel 4: Israeli official refuses to apologise for aid worker deaths
The letter from Flynn states: “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.
READ MORE: Publish your legal advice on Israel and Gaza, UK Government told
"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".
In February, scores of UN experts said that the UK Government must stop “immediately” or its officials could face individual legal prosecution.
However, the Tory government has refused to shift position.
On Tuesday, Labour also came under fire after one of its most senior MPs said the party did not have an issue with selling weapons to Israel, claiming there was no evidence the country had broken international law in Gaza.
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