FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LDFP welcomes the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the initial phase of a ceasefire plan in Gaza. This takes place almost exactly two years after Hamas’ terrorist attack on civilian communities as well as military bases bordering Gaza and the subsequent start of Israel’s genocidal assault on the Strip.
The announcement represents a desperately needed and long overdue step towards ending the immense suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, who have endured two years of relentless bombardment, displacement and starvation, with at least 67,000 killed and a great many more severely injured.
Today is a day of profound relief and cautious hope – for Palestinians who have survived unimaginable hardship, for Israeli and Palestinian families anticipating the return of hostages/prisoners, and for millions around the world who have demanded an end to the bloodshed.
However, serious concerns remain about the ceasefire plan itself. Negotiated between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu with limited Palestinian participation, it risks delivering only a temporary reprieve from the violence while denying Palestinians sovereignty, political unity and the exercising of their right to self-determination.
The plan contains no guarantees that Israel will end its military occupation of Gaza, and no enforcement mechanisms to prevent it from resuming the genocide once hostages have been released. It bypasses the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations, entrusting oversight of Gaza to President Trump and Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, figures whose motivations and murky business interests remain unclear at best. Finally, the plan is intentionally non-committal on Palestinian statehood, fails to address the root causes of the conflict, and omits any framework for uniting Gaza and the West Bank under a free and independent Palestine.
Therefore, while today’s announcement offers a moment of relief, it cannot be mistaken for peace. The focus must now shift to building the political conditions for a just and lasting settlement – one grounded in international law, Palestinian representation, and a clear path to full statehood.
Anne-Marie Simpson, Chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, said:
“This ceasefire offers a vital and long overdue moment of hope after two years of intolerable and unimaginable cruelty and suffering, but it must lead to more than just a pause in the violence.
“True peace will require accountability, an end to the occupation and military attacks by both sides, and a credible, UN-led process that guarantees Palestinian representation and the right to self-determination. The international community – and our own government – must now press for a genuine political solution that delivers justice and lasting freedom for the Palestinian people.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- LDFP’s full statement on Trump’s Gaza peace plan can be found here.
- For media inquiries, please contact Lucia Messent, Policy Officer, at luciamesssent@ldfp.org.uk.