Israel agrees daily pauses in Gaza… but Stephen Flynn thinks they …

The SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has criticised the humanitarian deal brokered by Israel and the USA following the major breakthrough secured by US President Joe Biden.[1][2][3] From Friday, Israel will implement daily four-hour pauses in its relentless assault on Hamas[4] in areas of northern Gaza to allow civilians to flee to safety or just go outside without fear of danger. Tel Aviv also agreed to open a second route for those looking to escape the north of the territory.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the agreement would "save lives". He made it clear that "Gaza cannot continue to be run by Hamas" but also said the US would not allow Israel to "occupy Gaza". However, the US agrees with Israel in saying that a ceasefire would aid Hamas.

But Mr Flynn, the Aberdeen South MP, said the daily pauses in bombing and new humanitarian corridor - a plan first put forward by the USA and agreed by the G7 nations in Tokyo on Thursday - would "provide more questions than they do answers". He was speaking as the SNP tabled an amendment in the Commons calling for a ceasefire, which will likely be debated and voted on next week. Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Friday, Mr Flynn was asked about the pauses and whether he believes they provide a good starting point for peace negotiations.

He said: "I don't, actually. I think that pauses provide more questions than they do answers. Where are people meant to go to during those four hours and how are they meant to get there?

What happens after those four hours? Do we simply see people continuing to get bombed but this time with some more food in their belly? What happens to the land which Israel is asking people to move from?

Are people going to be able to get that land back?"

Mr Flynn may not have seen the comments from Mr Blinken, who told reporters in Tokyo that it was "imperative that the Palestinian people be central to the governance of Gaza and the West Bank" after the defeat of Hamas. He left open the possibility of a "transition period" while a new non-terrorist government is put in place. The SNP leader appeared to be more interested in using the SNP motion on a ceasefire to score political points over Labour, ahead of the General Election next year where Sir Keir Starmer's party is tipped to decimate the Nats[6].

"What we are seeking to do is at the very first opportunity available to us - which I believe will be next Wednesday - is to ensure the House of Commons does have that vote on a ceasefire," he said. "We're very clear that we want a ceasefire in order to uphold international law, in order to protect civilian life and, of course, to promote peace.

Palestinians leave from the northern part of the Gaza to flee the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip on November 09, 2023Palestinians leave from the northern part of the Gaza to flee the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip on November 09, 2023

"I think that that's something which all politicians of all parties should be able to unite behind. I'm afraid that it's very unlikely that Conservative members and indeed the Labour leadership will unite behind us in that regard, and I think that will be of much disappointment to the public." Asked if a ceasefire would allow Hamas a chance to regroup, Mr Flynn told the Good Morning Scotland programme he agrees the terrorist group "need to be defeated", but questioned: "What does that defeat look like in practice and how many civilians are we going to allow to be collateral damage during this process?"

He even likened the current conflict to the experience of Western nations in Afghanistan, saying: "We weren't able to defeat the Taliban and in fact they are back in control in Afghanistan." Never miss the latest top headlines from the Scottish Daily Express. Sign up to our daily newsletter here[7].

References

  1. ^ Stephen Flynn (www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk)
  2. ^ Israel (www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk)
  3. ^ Joe Biden. (www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk)
  4. ^ relentless assault on Hamas (www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk)
  5. ^ Will Israel still exist in 25 years' time?

    We must show the world the Jewish State is permanent and will not fall (www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk)

  6. ^ Sir Keir Starmer's party is tipped to decimate the Nats (www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk)
  7. ^ here (data.reachplc.com)