Stormont Assembly to hear call for immediate Gaza ceasefire

The Stormont Assembly is set to hear a call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and southern Israel.

The debate, listed for Tuesday, will be led by the Opposition SDLP.

It has been described as the first opportunity for the Assembly to make a united call for peace since the outbreak of the latest conflict in the region in October 2023.

The motion proposed by the official Opposition leader, Matthew O'Toole, condemns violence by Israel and Hamas.

It also calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, rejects any ground assault on Rafah, affirms support for a two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine as a state, and calls for an end to the sale or transfer of weapons to Israel "while the genocide continues".

The motion additionally mandates First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to write to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in support of these aims.

Mr O'Toole MLA described the situation as "genocide of unbearable proportions".

"It has been seven months since the initial scenes of violence in Gaza and southern Israel were first beamed across the world. In that time, we have all been horrified by the depths to which human depravity has plunged," he said.

"Abductions, torture, the murder of innocent men, women and children, the obliteration of entire families and communities has all become chillingly commonplace.

"This is a genocide of unbearable proportions, which for too long has been armed and abetted by countries who say they care about human rights.

"As a society that found the strength to say no to vengeful violence and that now enjoys a fragile peace, we have a responsibility to speak up and speak out about the horror of conflict.

"The SDLP Opposition has tabled a ceasefire motion in the Assembly this week. We sincerely hope that it can be a moment for our society to unite behind a call for peace."