Latest developments Israel has expanded its ground offensive into southern Gaza, promising to pursue Hamas commanders and operatives who took advantage of its targeted northern operation by moving southward. The southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas is known to have concentrated its forces since Israel entered the northern Strip, Read more…
Today, LFI vice-chair Sharon Hodgson MP has written to the Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron expressing her concern over the emerging evidence of systematic sexual abuse of Israeli women by Hamas terrorists in the 7 October attacks. The letter also condemns the “failure of the international community to clearly and unequivocally Read more…
*** Check against delivery *** Bring them home Eli Sharabi is my brother. I love him and I miss him. I need your help to bring him home. Eli is married to my sister, Lianne, and father to my two beautiful nieces, Noiya and Yahel. My sister and nieces, Read more…
*** Check against delivery *** Chief Rabbi, Ambassador Hotovely, friends. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Labour Friends of Israel Annual Lunch. And a warm welcome to our friends from the Abraham Accords countries. LFI’s work is more vital than ever, and the Read more…
*** Check against delivery *** Thank yous Thank you, Chief Rabbi, Ambassador, friends… some of you old friends. Sir David Garrard for the wonderful introduction. Isaac Kaye. Adrian Cohen. Steve McCabe for your advice and support. Tom Murray, Thomas Webster, Tina Bhartwas, Sam Rubens Read more…
David Lammy today used the LFI annual lunch to underline Labour’s commitment to Israel and set out a series of measures the party would take in government to support a renewed drive to kick-start the Middle East peace process. The shadow foreign secretary was addressing the biggest LFI lunch since Read more…
At today’s Urgent Question on the humanitarian pause in Gaza, a number of LFI parliamentarians pushed the government on a several issues relating to the current humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. LFI chair Steve McCabe MP asked: “I welcome the pause, with hostages released and Read more…
LFI board member Louise Ellman has written the below article for Progressive Britain. Click here to read the original. The UN’s International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November is a time to face reality: the atrocities of Hamas gunmen in on October 7 included the widespread Read more…
Responding for the Labour party to today’s House of Commons statement on the situation in Gaza, shadow foreign secretary and LFI parliamentary supporter David Lammy reiterated Labour’s position of condemnation of Hamas and expressed the party’s desire to see a renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace process. With regard to Hamas, Lammy said: Read more…
Hostage deal On 21 November, the Israeli cabinet approved a deal to secure the release of at least 50 Israeli civilian hostages, beginning with women and children. Those released are expected to include 30 children, eight mothers and twelve elderly women. Around 240 hostages are being held in total. According Read more…
This afternoon, a number of Labour MPs and peers were briefed by the Israeli deputy ambassador, Oren Marmorstein, and Thomas Hand, whose 9-year-old daughter Emily has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since 7 October. The briefing, which took place in Parliament and was organised by LFI, included a Read more…
LFI director Michael Rubin has written the below article for the Jewish News. Click here to read the original. The catastrophic Israel-Hamas war is an irreversible turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The diplomatic priority for the international community in the short term is the massive humanitarian needs of Gazans and Read more…