Gaza: More than third of Welsh Parliament calls for ceasefire

Palestinians search for victims and survivors in the rubble of a residential building levelled in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.

More than a third of politicians in the Senedd from all of its political parties have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Plaid Cymru's group has backed a motion criticising "the Israeli government's indiscriminate attacks".

Meanwhile, eight Labour and three Conservative Members of the Senedd (MSs) called for "an end to the siege".

In total 24 of the Senedd's 60 politicians have so far supported ceasefire calls.

A statement of opinion signed by 20 MSs "expressed grave concern at the continuing tragedy in Israel and Gaza".

The statement condemned "the attacks on Israeli citizens and taking of hostages".

It called "for an end to the siege to allow vital supplies into the area in the volume required, [an] immediate ceasefire and release of hostages".

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The text - which will not be debated in the Senedd - was tabled by Labour MS for Newport East John Griffiths, and was co-submitted by Tory MS Altaf Hussain, Plaid Cymru's Peredur Owen Griffiths and Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds.

Other Labour supporters include Vikki Howells, Jack Sargeant, Carolyn Thomas, Huw Irranca-Davies, Jayne Bryant and Mike Hedges.

Conservatives Darren Millar and former Tory leader Paul Davies also supported the text, alongside seven Plaid Senedd members. The MS for South Wales Central Rhys ab Owen also signed the statement.

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Separately, Plaid has tabled a motion for debate in the Senedd condemning the Hamas attacks, and "the Israeli government's indiscriminate attacks on Gaza".

It calls on the international community to "unite in seeking an immediate ceasefire to end the human suffering and allow humanitarian organisations to reach those in need".

The party is seeking cross-party support for the motion, which will likely be debated after the Senedd returns in two weeks. It has been supported by all of the Plaid group except Elin Jones, who cannot sign as she is presiding officer.

Under the system of devolution the Senedd has no formal role in foreign affairs, although politicians in Cardiff Bay often express their views on the topic.

At a UK level, so far neither Prime Minister Rishi Sunak nor Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have supported calls for a ceasefire.

Sir Keir is under pressure over his stance on Gaza from his own party. He has faced calls from 150 Labour Muslim councillors and more than 30 Labour MPs urging to him to support an immediate ceasefire.