Trio of MSs table amendment to alter wording of Plaid Cymru ceasefire motion
Emily Price
A trio of cross party MSs have tabled an amendment to alter the wording of a Plaid Cymru motion which calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.
The Gaza Strip has been hit by devastating Israeli air strikes in retaliation to Hamas militants who launched an attack on Israel on October 7.
Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies like food, water and fuel.
The Irish and Scottish governments have already called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
So far, the First Minister has declared support instead for a ‘humanitarian pause’ as advocated by the leader of the UK Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer.
Plaid Cymru has tabled a motion calling on the First Minister and all Members of the Senedd to vote in favour of a full ceasefire.
The motion will be debated in the Senedd on Wednesday (November 7) afternoon.
But in an amendment tabled by Tory MS Darren Millar, he proposes that the word ‘ceasefire’ is removed from the motion and the term ‘suspension of hostilities’ is used instead.
Amendment
Labour MS’s Alun Davies and Hefin David have co-submitted the amendment which proposes that the Senedd:
-
- Condemns the indiscriminate attacks, violence and acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas against Israel on 7th October.
- Recognises the right of all sovereign states, including the State of Israel, to defend themselves and their citizens.
- Believes that war should be conducted in accordance with international law, including avoiding civilian casualties.
- Regrets the loss of civilian lives and casualties in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
- Extends the deepest sympathy of people across Wales to those who have lost loved ones.
- Recognises the further risks posed by the significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- Calls for: a) the release of hostages; b) a suspension of hostilities to allow for the establishment of humanitarian corridors; c) the reopening of the Rafah crossing to enable civilians, foreign nationals, aid workers and humanitarian supplies to cross without unnecessary hindrance; d) the international community to work with Israeli and Palestinian representatives to bring an end to the conflict and negotiate a permanent peace settlement which delivers security and prosperity for all, based on the principle of the two-state solution.
Nation.Cymru asked Alun Davies why the amendment altering the wording had been tabled.
The MS for Blaenau Gwent said: “If I’ve learnt anything in 40 years of visiting and working in the Middle East it is that there is no hierarchy of suffering, of pain, of grief or loss.
“The Hamas attacks on Israel a month ago took place with no care or concern for the consequences for the innocent Palestinian people of Gaza. Hamas are as careless about the lives of Palestinians as they are determined to kill as many people in Israel. There can never be any equivalence between Hamas and the State of Israel.
“I hope that this amendment is a measured, sincere and serious means of reflecting our sorrow and concern for people on both sides of this conflict. It recognises that Israel has the right to defend itself and its people but must do so within the confines of international law.
“This amendment calls for the release of hostages and for the delivery of humanitarian aid and protection for innocent civilians. It reaffirms our support for a two state solution with the recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel where both peoples can live in security and peace.
“No-one can watch the images from Gaza and Israel with anything except a deep sense of anguish and distress. The suffering and the pain is too deep to respond with slogans or empty words. I would have preferred the Senedd having an opportunity to come together to share the deep concern of people across Wales.”
Punishment
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Plaid Cymru leader, said: “Plaid Cymru condemns the horrifying attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians and call for the immediate release of hostages. We also condemn the Israeli Government’s indiscriminate attacks on Gaza and the collective punishment of thousands of innocent Palestinians.
“Our Senedd motion is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to end the appalling attacks on innocent civilians. This would allow aid agencies to deliver vital care and supplies to the thousands currently suffering in the Gaza Strip.
“Plaid Cymru is urging every party in the Senedd to unite behind a ceasefire so that our national parliament sends a clear message for humanity and peace.
“We welcome the support of Labour and Liberal Democrat Members who have already signed our motion or indicated their support, and hope that many others will do so during tomorrow’s debate.”
Hefin David MS said he supported the comments of Alun Davies.
Darren Miller MS was invited to comment but did not respond.
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Shame on Alun Davies and Hefin David. Our nation should call for an immediate ceasefire, the only humane way forward. Those two gentlemen are obviously more interested in the political suffering and pain that Keir Starmer is going through.
Another thing there is that on one side the killing is “condemns” but on the other only “regrets”
One group are Arabs, whilst the others are descendants of white Europeans and Americans. Need I say more.
I think you might benefit from going away and doing a little basic research before commenting and making a complete fool of yourself.
It’s easy, you have access to the internet…
Actually about half of Israeli Jews are descended from those who were expelled from Arab countries, or came from Iran, Turkey, central Asia, India and Ethopia.
Utterly shameful amendment,proposed by 2 of whom have taken paid for Israel trips and the other is Friends of Israel person.
“ Know thee by the friends thy keep “ still
true today !
…to use Alun Davies’ words “there can never be” any excuse to act like the Israeli state, in taking revenge / retaliating against Gaza civilians. Equivalent to the facists massacres in Lidice and Guernica. Now a recognised crime in International law. Shameful of Starmer etc. to pretend this was “self defence”. Israeli defences have proved very effective in terms of destroying most rockets – only ~60 Israeli’s killed by all Hamas and Palestinian rockets since 2000, a low rate compared with other frontiers between hostile forces. The 7 October breakthough of the fence appears plotted and incited by Israeli secret… Read more »
We are witness to an Israeli snuff movie and the world media, UN & EU turn a blind eye to Jewish war crimes where over 10,000 innocient civilians have died, which 4000 are children. Truly sickening. It was Hamas who killed over 1,400 innocient civilians in Southern Israel not the Palestinian people. It’s like Britain taking collective punishment to those living in the Republic of Ireland after the Real IRA exploded a device in Omagh murdering 29 men, women and children who were out happily shopping not knowing it was their last day on earth. I commend Rhun ap Iorwerth… Read more »
“Jewish” war crimes eh?
Well pointed out. People need to be very careful not to conflate Jews with Israel. Whilst Israel is a predominantly Jewish state, not all Jews are Zionists, and some groups of Jews are hostile to the idea of a Zionist state. It’s also a fact that many Israelis are opposed to the actions of their government and the extreme actions of groups in Israeli society. Internationally there are also many Jews who are hostile to the actions of the Israeli government, just as there are many Muslims for whom the actions of groups such as Hamas are abhorrent, and who… Read more »
…. and do you know how they (Hamas) deals with those of their citizens ‘…who have been vocal in their condemnation’ of Hamas?
Very very subtle and cunning. Only sovereign nations have a right to defend themselves. Only “acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas against Israel” are condemned. The crisis in Gaza is only ‘humanitarian’. They also conveniently forget to mention that very many Palestinians are stateless people, as the Israeli Government makes it very difficult for them to get passport. These people have no way out of Gaza, even if humanitarian corridors open. Shame on the Labour Government propping up an apartheid and terrorist state.
Virtue-signalling at its most sickening.
Spineless Israeli apologists, How many times have the Israeli government paid for these muppets to go on “fact Finding” trips to Israel?
There’s little danger of you doing any fact finding, I’ll bet.
Tories support Israel..