The Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which came into force at 12pm on Friday (10th October), was described by Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey as a win for diplomacy, reports Marco Marcelline
Waltham Forest MPs have welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza, saying they hope it results in “lasting peace” for the war-torn region.
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which came into force at 12pm on Friday (10th October), was described by Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey as a win for diplomacy.
Today (13th October), all of the 20 remaining Israeli hostages were returned by Hamas, while around 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli detention are set to be released in the coming hours and days.
More than 67,000 Gazans, mostly civilians, have been killed by the Israel Defence Force since the start of its military campaign, prompted by Hamas’ 7th October 2023 attacks that left 1,195 Israelis dead and 251 held hostage.
United States President Donald Trump today spoke at Israel’s parliament (Knesset) in celebration of the US brokered ceasefire deal, where he received a standing ovation.
In that speech, Trump said “the long and painful nightmare is finally over”, and suggested the region was experiencing “the historic dawn of a new Middle East”.
A left-wing parliamentarian, Ayman Odeh, was removed from the Knesset after he interrupted Trump’s speech and held a sign reading “recognise Palestine”.
Closer to home, MPs have welcomed the ceasefire. Speaking on Friday 10th October, Bailey MBE MP said: “The start of this ceasefire is so welcome and so hard-won. So many victimised and traumatised families in Gaza and the hostage families in Israel are waiting to see if all our hopes are realised.
“The toll of this war will take many years to recover from, unrestricted aid must now flow as promised, and UK diplomats are hard at work with our partners to ensure the second phase begins and the ceasefire holds.
“Diplomacy and pressure have both made a difference. So many people across the world, including in Leyton and Wanstead, have played a part in bringing about this hopeful moment for peace.”
Writing on X/Twitter, Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said: “A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas [is] so desperately needed, so much only a starting point of hope. For the innocent civilians in both nations, the bombs must stop, the food must get in and all hostages freed. Only then can work begin on a long-term future for both states. We watch. We wait. We pray it lasts. We pray it works.”
Meanwhile, Chingford and Woodford Green MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the Echo: “I am very happy that at last a ceasefire has been agreed and that there will be a return of the hostages. I welcome the ending of the war, and I hope the negotiators on both sides make progress to achieve all the other points in ‘Trump’s Gaza peace plan’ which will hopefully bring a lasting peace.”
However, activist group Waltham Forest for a Free Palestine, which has been persistently lobbying the council to divest from arms companies complicit in Israel, was more cautious in its reaction to the ceasefire.
A spokesperson for the group told the Echo: “We welcome the news of a ceasefire with cautious hope for the future of Palestine.
“Our hearts are simultaneously joyful and broken as we see innocent Palestinian hostages freed and reunited with their remaining family.
“This hope persists despite the Israeli bombing in central and southern Gaza and Lebanon immediately following the ceasefire announcement, and the killing of journalist Saleh Al-Jafarawi by an Israeli-backed militia. After two years of genocide, we know better than to take Israel at its word.
“This is not a time for rest or to ease the pressure. Locally, we will continue to hold Waltham Forest Council to account to divest from arms companies and companies complicit in genocide, illegal occupation, and apartheid. The ceasefire is a crucial first step, but we will keep up the pressure until Palestine is free.”
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