MHK calls for Isle of Man to add its voice to Israel-Hamas war

'It's not acceptable to stand by and watch'

An MHK is calling on the Isle of Man to condemn the actions of both Israel and Hamas in the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Rushen MHK Dr Michelle Haywood has put forward a Tynwald motion, asking that members agree to call upon the international community to work towards a ceasefire.

She asks that Tynwald:

1. Condemns the attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians and calls for the immediate release of all hostages.

2. Notes that Israel has a duty to ensure the protection, security and welfare of its citizens and the occupied Palestinian population.

3. Condemns the Israeli Government’s indiscriminate attacks on Gaza, resulting in the death of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians and agrees with the United Nations Secretary-General that collective punishment of the Palestinian people cannot be justified.

4. Calls on the international community to: a) unite in seeking to progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire; b) bring pressure to bear on the Israeli Government to abide by international law and the basic human rights of Palestinian civilians; and c) do everything within its power to create safe and meaningful aid corridors into the Gaza Strip and enable safe passage out of the region.

5. Stands in solidarity with the Palestinian and Israeli communities of the Isle of Man affected by the conflict.

Dr Haywood told Manx Radio why she hopes members will back her:

Dr Haywood's motion has already received support from eight Tynwald members: Onchan MHK Rob Callister, Douglas South MHK Claire Christian, Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher, Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Tim Glover, Douglas South MHK Sarah Maltby, MLC Rob Mercer, Middle MHK Stu Peters, and Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh.