GAZA’S humanitarian crisis has been at the forefront of discussions in Pershore recently with the town’s MP who met with constituents to discuss the topic.
West Worcestershire MP, Dame Harriett Baldwin was invited to speak by the Evesham4Palestine group following a petition they sent in June to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
The group demanding a stop all military collaboration with Israel and to recognise the legitimate claims of the Palestinian peoples for their own state.
More than 30 people attended the heated exchange at St Andrews Church to question Dame Harriett and share their views about the conflict in Gaza, the continued detention of Israeli hostages and the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid to.
Organiser Garry Fowles told the Observer that the meeting had been held as people from Pershore had been dissatisfied with the responses that had come from the MP previously, as they questioned her stance on the unfolding catastrophe.
“Ms Baldwin refused to accept that Israel was carrying out a genocide in Gaza against the Palestinian people.
“It was explained to her that Israel was breaking international law in Gaza and that a United Nations special committee concluded Israel was guilty of genocide, however, she refused to accept these arguments and instead asserted that the death, destruction and starvation now occurring in Gaza was entirely the responsibility of Hamas.
“Furthermore Ms Baldwin would not say why she and many other UK politicians and leaders were afraid to criticise Israel and disputed whether this contention was correct,” he said.
Following the meeting the MP agreed to make further representations on Gaza to the Government expressing the views of the people in the room.
Dame Harriett added: “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is intolerable and I am grateful that Pershore people took time out of their Friday night to come and share their views.
“I am glad that we live in a country where people are able to come forward and express their strongly held opinions to their MP in a peaceful and constructive way.
“We all agreed to convey to the Government the urgency of finding a way to get more humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Gaza.
“I have pledged to convey to the Foreign Secretary the clear view that we would like to see our Government do everything it can to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
