Dear Hastings and District PSC,

The unbearable suffering that we have seen in Gaza in recent years is a moral emergency. In the nearly three years of violence since Hamas' atrocious terror attack on 7th October 2023, it is completely unacceptable that so many innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives have been lost in this terrible conflict.

It is also completely unacceptable that the Israeli military continues to expand the area it controls in Gaza. The two-state solution, which this Government backs to the hilt, must mean freedom, security and self-determination for both Palestinian and Israeli people. That is under great threat due to the actions of the Netanyahu Government.

We are witnessing unprecedented violence, including settler terrorism, and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank perpetrated by settler terrorists. We've seen the violence spiralling, and we are acting today to ban all trade from illegal Israeli settlements, and to:

Ban trade in goods from illegal Israeli settlements and taking action on services, creating new designation powers to go after individuals and companies that support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlement activity.

Ban advertising or promotion of land and property in illegal settlements;

Strengthen our existing global human rights sanctions regime to go after those who defy international humanitarian law, in Palestine, and around the world too;

Use our existing global human rights regime to sanction several extremist settlers who have supported or incited acts of violence against Palestinian communities.

Reimpose major economic sanctions on Iran, and bearing down on its network of proxy groups including Hezbollah.

The Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has also led an initiative with the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden today to confirm their joint intention to introduce national/and or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these or other measures.

The only route to security for both peoples is a safe and secure Israel and safe and secure Palestine living side by side in peaceful co-existence. Speaking to the House of Commons today, Ed Miliband spoke about this "belief in the rights and freedoms of the Israeli and Palestinian people that leads many, including me, to a deep sense of shame about what has unfolded in Palestine under the eyes of the international community... Our argument is not with the people of Israel, with whom the UK has unshakeable bonds. Our argument is with the conduct of its government."

It is also important to remember that divisive rhetoric around this issue can be deeply harmful in the current political climate. Holding Jewish people responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government is antisemitism, plain and simple. We have seen horrific attacks recently on the British Jewish community in Golders Green and in Manchester. This Labour Government condemns Hamas' monstrous attack on October 7th as strongly today as we did in the immediate aftermath. The only route to security for both peoples is a safe and secure Israel and safe and secure Palestine living side by side in peaceful co-existence.

Thank you for previously contacting me about this. If I can ever be of help to you on this or any other issue, please don't hesitate to get in touch. If you would like to stay up to date with my work for Hastings, Rye and the villages then you can take a look at my Facebook or sign up to my newsletter.

All the best,

Helena

Helena Dollimore
Member of Parliament for Hastings, Rye and the villages

8 September 2026
Hastings and District PSC website.