Danczuk chairs Gaza meeting

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk chaired a meeting at Parliament on Wednesday to discuss the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara, a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk chaired a meeting at Parliament on Wednesday, 2 June to discuss the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara, a flotilla carrying international aid to Gaza.

The debate took place in the Boothroyd Room at Parliament and was attended by Labour, Conservative and Green MPs.

“A meeting to discuss how we can campaign as Parliamentarians both inside and outside Parliament was thought essential if we are to hold Israel to account for their appalling actions,” said Mr Danczuk. “The meeting was very productive with us agreeing to table questions and call for debates, plus link into other campaigns outside Parliament.”

Actions agreed during the meeting included the raising of greater awareness about Gaza amongst peers and MPs, more cross-party discussions to tackle such issues and a call for a Western debate over Gaza. People were also encouraged to peacefully protest and to pressure the Government over the EU-Israel trade agreement.

Mr Danczuk added: “As a founding member of Labour Friends of Palestine I have been campaigning for some time on Middle East issues and when these sorts of incidents flare up it's critical that we do all we can to expose Israel’s behaviour.”