The situation in Gaza is frankly soul shattering - Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran

"The situation in Gaza is frankly soul shattering. It's been 300 days, nearly. 

"The death toll is at 38,000, the vast majority killed being women and children. On 15 July, 22 people lost their lives in a strike on a UN run school.

"That's the fifth attack on or near a school in the last 8 days, and those that survived the bombings are at severe risk of disease and malnutrition on the backdrop of a medical system that has been completely decimated. So can I warmly welcome the restoration of funding to UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works agency) as a backbone of Gazan society. 

"But the number of deaths will only increase exponentially with the finding of polio. In the Lancet, it was estinated it might reach 186,000.

"This has to end now. 

"We need that immediate ceasefire, but we need also those hostages out and the aid to come in. But it is also right that we start thinking about not just the next day, but how do we stop this from ever happening again, and there is only one viable answer to that, and that is the two state solution. That is our North Star. It's the keystone to stability in the region as well.

"But I have to express disappointment that the Foreign Secretary refuses to pull the lever that would best signify our commitment to it which is to recognise the Palestinian state on 1967 borders. Ireland, Spain and Norway did it this May.

"Will he consider it and if he won't, why not?"

Layla Moran MP in HOC - check against delivery of speech here: https://x.com/brumlibdems/status/1815324106293723475