MP Layla Moran on 'huge tragedy' in Israel and Palestine

The Oxford West and Abingdon representative became the first MP of Palestinian heritage when she was elected in 2017.

And she told the BBC yesterday that her family was scared and, as a result of the latest conflict, separated between Jerusalem, Jericho and Oxford’s twinned city Ramallah.

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“They’ve stopped the movement through from Jerusalem, and so that’s very worrying that the whole family can’t be together as you would want to be at this time,” Ms Moran said.

“Thank goodness, so far they are safe.

“They, of course, are looking across at Gaza and looking at that sky as we saw in pictures earlier and the mourning is deep from them and their friends as well."

I feel a deep sense of grief as I have watched this shocking tragedy unfold over the past few days.

I attended a vigil in Oxford where the community shared in our mourning, standing shoulder to shoulder through this difficult time.

📺 Speaking to @kacungira on @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/Q80Dvg0M5L

— Layla Moran 🔶 (@LaylaMoran) October 11, 2023

The MP added: “This is a huge tragedy, as Biden said. And it affects all of us who have ties into the region, regardless of what your family heritage is. It’s a really sad time.”

Ms Moran attended Tuesday evening’s vigil in Radcliffe Square, describing the event as both moving and mournful.

The Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson joined calls for the release of hostages. She told the BBC: “That is the first thing that needs to happen for us to even begin to start to move forward through this.”