An investigation was launched by the police after a shadow minister’s office in Cardiff was vandalized after she abstained from voting for a ceasefire in Gaza. Jo Stevens’s office was sprayed with red paint and posters featuring a red palm-print on her face and the words “blood on your hands” were put up. A police spokesperson confirmed that South Wales Police is investigating the incident as criminal damage to a property on Albany Road. This was not the first time Stevens’s office had been vandalized by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Additionally, ten Labour frontbenchers resigned in order to vote for the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) ceasefire amendment. However, the SNP ceasefire vote, which was defeated by 294 votes to 125, had little chance of passing even if Labour supported it due to the Conservative majority in Parliament. Stevens explained that there had been four protests in the last two weeks, and she has had to close her constituent office during each one.
Regarding the protesters’ demand for a ceasefire in Gaza, Stevens stated that the ceasefire they wanted involved Israel unilaterally putting down its weapons, which she argued was not a true ceasefire. She stressed that a ceasefire could only be negotiated, not imposed. Stevens emphasized the need for a political solution to the situation and insisted that the violence should ultimately come to a halt. Despite pressure from her constituents who have experienced loss due to the conflict, Stevens stood by her decision to abstain from voting for the ceasefire in Gaza.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. The issue is complex, with different perspectives on what the ceasefire should entail and who bears responsibility for the ongoing violence. The situation is highly intertwined with geopolitics and the history of the region, making it a challenging issue to address and resolve.