Gaza: Welsh Parliament to debate call for ceasefire
- Published
There are differing views in the Welsh Parliament about how to respond to the situation in Gaza
Politicians in the Senedd will debate calls for an "immediate ceasefire" in the Middle East later.
Plaid Cymru has tabled a motion condemning the attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, and the Israeli government's "indiscriminate attacks on Gaza".
But opinion in the Welsh Parliament - and its Labour group - is divided on what the Senedd should say.
Ministers will give Labour backbenchers a free vote and will abstain.
That includes First Minister Mark Drakeford, who has expressed a similar position to Sir Keir Starmer and has called for an humanitarian pause.
It is possible that Wednesday's motion will pass with the backing of several Labour Members of the Senedd (MS) who have already signed a separate symbolic statement of opinion, which had been backed by a few Conservatives, calling for an "immediate ceasefire".
But the result is not clear and two Labour MSs have supported an alternative Welsh Conservative amendment that instead calls for a "suspension of hostilities".
A large group of Labour MSs supporting calls for a ceasefire could put more pressure on UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has been facing calls to change his stance from within his own party.
Under Wales' system of devolution the Senedd has no formal role in foreign affairs but politicians in Cardiff Bay often express their views on international matters.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also backed calls for a humanitarian pause.
The Urdd youth organisation, Muslim Council of Wales, Wales TUC and Cymdeithas yr Iaith Welsh language society have also joined the calls for a ceasefire.
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The Plaid Cymru motion on Wednesday 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".
Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "Palestinian and Israeli families have been torn apart. Hamas must release all hostages immediately and the Israeli government must stop its intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip."
Labour MSs John Griffiths, who tabled the statement of opinion, Sarah Murphy and Carolyn Thomas are expected to back the Plaid motion.
John Griffiths (pictured left) was a speaker at a pro-Palestinian protest held outside the Senedd on Wednesday afternoon
An amendment put forward by the Welsh Conservative MS Darren Millar, and supported by Labour backbenchers Alun Davies and Hefin David, instead calls for a "suspension of hostilities to allow for the establishment of humanitarian corridors".
It regrets the loss of civilian life "in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank", and "recognises the right of all sovereign states, including the State of Israel, to defend themselves and their citizens".
The text - expected to be backed by the Conservative group - also calls for the "international community to work with Israeli and Palestinian representatives to bring an end to the conflict and negotiate a permanent peace settlement".
Alun Davies, Labour MS for Blaenau Gwent, accused Plaid Cymru's motion of creating "an equivalence between Hamas and Israel and that is just not true and therefore not possible for me to support".
"There is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas," he told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast programme.
He said he was disappointed that the government was abstaining on the debate.
Mr Millar said it was important that the Senedd sends a clear message "that we want to see a long and lasting peace settlement for the good of both the Israeli and Palestinian people".
Mr Drakeford is not expected to contribute to the debate, with Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt responding for the government.
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