Slough’s Liberal Democrats have joined growing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Party members in the town, including all three Liberal Democrats on Slough Borough Council, signed a statement calling on the UK government to push for a halt to the violence.

The motion was unanimously passed at their annual general meeting on November 8.

Condemning the Hamas attacks on October 7 and deploring the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, their statement reads: “We urge the UK government to lead international efforts to call for the restoration of essential supplies such as food, water, medicine and electricity to Gaza in line with international law.

“Aid should be managed by the United Nations along with international non-government organisations. We also urge the UK Government to heed the calls of the World Health Organization, that the forced evacuation of hospitals in Northern Gaza may be a breach of international humanitarian law.

“We believe that innocent Palestinians must not pay the price for the atrocities of Hamas; that is why we urge the UK government to lead calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. We believe the people of Israel and Palestine have a right to live free from fear.

“We therefore ask the British Government as a permanent UN Security Council member to promote efforts to achieve a conflict resolution in the interests of ending the violence inflicted on both Israeli and Palestinian civilians since October 7.”

They further called for UN involvement in Gaza’s post-conflict reconstruction and a “redoubling of efforts” to bring about a lasting peace.

It follows a similar open letter by Slough Borough Council’s Labour group -  which also called on the government to back a ceasefire.

Hamas launched attacks into Israel on October 7 in which hundreds of Israeli civilians were killed and more than 200 Israelis were taken hostage.

Israel retaliated with airstrikes and a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip. Hamas is recognised as a terrorist group in the UK.

Lib Dem councillor for Cippenham Village Frank O’Kelly said: “The statement condemns the awful terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel on the 7th October, the taking of hostages and the loss of all innocent lives – Palestinian as well as Israeli.

"And it goes on to explain that an immediate ceasefire is necessary to allow essential supplies such as food, water, medicine and electricity into Gaza, in line with international law, and provide an opportunity for the release of the hostages.”