For two years, the peoples of Israel and Gaza have endured unimaginable suffering, loss and pain sparked by the barbaric Hamas attacks of 7 October.
LFI strongly supports the ceasefire deal agreed overnight which will see the release of the Israeli hostages and a surge in aid to Gaza.
Our thoughts this morning are especially with the Israeli hostage families who have shown enormous courage and resilience over the past 734 days to bring home their loved ones. They are an example to us all.
It is imperative that the next stage of the deal is swiftly agreed and implemented. This will disarm Hamas and ensure it has no role in the future governance of Palestine; begin the reconstruction of Gaza; and sets out a path to a future Palestinian state.
This has been accepted by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab states.
Having started this terrible conflict, Hamas now has the power to end it.
