Paul Bristow
A Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Bristow has been removed from his government position after advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Paul Bristow was asked to step down from his role as a parliamentary private secretary after he wrote to the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, urging a “permanent” end to the hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
A spokesperson from Number 10 stated that he was dismissed because his comments were not in line with the principles of collective responsibility.
Bristow expressed his understanding of the Prime Minister’s decision and said, “I can now talk openly about an issue so many of my constituents care deeply about. I believe I can do this better from the backbenches rather than as part of the government payroll.”
While many opposition MPs have supported calls for a ceasefire, very few Conservative MPs have done so. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Paul Bristow, the MP for Peterborough, expressed his and his constituents’ deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where thousands have been killed and over one million people have been displaced.
He also questioned the impact of the ongoing conflict on Israel’s security and the overall situation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated on Monday termed the ceasefire in Gaza a surrender to Hamas. He rejected the ceasefire demand and said the ground forces are operating inside Gaza, and airstrikes continue to target the Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu, addressing foreign press after a meeting with his war cabinet, reported that Israeli forces are making systematic progress against Hamas in response to the October 7 attacks, the deadliest in the country’s history.
These intensified military operations have raised concerns for the 2.4 million residents of Gaza, where the Hamas-controlled health ministry reports more than 8,300 casualties. It included half of children and women.
During the press briefing, Netanyahu emphasized that a ceasefire would be tantamount to surrendering to Hamas, which, according to the latest Israeli figures, was responsible for the deaths of 1,400 people and the capture of more than 230 hostages.
Reports from northern Gaza indicated ongoing air and artillery strikes on Monday as Israeli troops, supported by tanks, conducted a ground assault into the enclave. These actions have spurred further international calls for the protection of civilians.
Israel’s military disclosed that it had targeted more than 600 militant sites in recent days as ground operations in the Gaza Strip continued to expand.
