Gaza: Welsh Labour health minister calls for ceasefire
- Published
A senior Welsh government minister has broken ranks and called for an Israel-Gaza ceasefire.
Eluned Morgan is the most senior Welsh politician to call for a ceasefire in the war, which started on 7 October.
The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has been criticised by Plaid Cymru for calling for a "humanitarian pause". The row has come amid pressure on Sir Keir Starmer over his Gaza stance.
The Welsh government declined to comment on Ms Morgan's remarks.
In an article on WalesOnline, external Ms Morgan wrote that "an immediate ceasefire will save hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent lives".
The health minister added: "On top of this, we must call for Israeli hostages to be released and the world must stand together to condemn the vicious Hamas attacks of 7th of October and the rise in anti-Semitic behaviour."
Ms Morgan said Wales should align with the UN which has called for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce in Gaza leading to a cessation of hostilities.
"In the midst of tragedy, whatever the rights and wrongs of the reasons for conflict, the pursuit of peace should be a timeless principle that guides our actions and we must all hold onto the belief that humanity can prevail," she added.
Mr Drakeford has echoed the stance taken by UK Labour leader, Sir Keir, calling for a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid to reach civilians in Gaza.
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At the weekend the Muslim Council of Wales urged Mr Drakeford to call on Sir Keir and Rishi Sunak to back an "unconditional ceasefire", saying he should set out 'clear red water' from UK Labour.
On Tuesday, Mr Drakeford reiterated his stance in a letter to the council's Abdul Azim Ahmed.
He said that Gaza needed immediate restoration of aid, electricity, fuel, food and water.
"That cannot happen while hostilities continue, which is why I have already joined others in calling for an immediate pause in hostilities to ensure that desperately needed supplies enter Gaza and are distributed widely and to help create the conditions for a full ceasefire.
"In the urgency of today's desperate circumstances, I believe that the quickest and most effective way to assist those in overwhelming need is to join others in the international community by calling for an immediate pause."
Ceasefire 'not correct position'
In a speech on Tuesday, Sir Keir said he understood calls for a ceasefire but that it was not the "correct position" at the moment.
He argued a ceasefire would "embolden" Hamas, and would leave its infrastructure intact, enabling them to carry out future attacks.
Sir Keir is facing an internal row within his party as many senior politicians, including the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, have called for a ceasefire.
More than a third of politicians in the Welsh Parliament have called for a ceasefire, including most backbench Labour Members of the Senedd.
In response to Mr Drakeford's comments Plaid Cymru's parliamentary leader, Liz Saville Roberts, said on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Look at the harrowing scenes from Gaza. Put yourself in their shoes and ask how long a 'pause' is acceptable before the killing of children starts again."
At the weekend, the Muslim Council of Wales said Mr Drakeford should call on Sir Keir and Rishi Sunak to back an "unconditional ceasefire".
"You are well known for coining the term 'clear red water' which the late Rhodri Morgan used in a speech to distinguish a Welsh Labour Government from the UK Labour government," Abdul Azim Ahmed, the organisation's secretary general, wrote.
"A similar approach is needed now more than ever."
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- Published31 October 2023
