C. FresnedaLondon Correspondent

London Correspondent

Updated Wednesday, February 21, 2024-23:23

  • Israel-Gaza War Prince William calls for end to 'human suffering' in Gaza

The British Parliament approved an amendment demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza, after a tense debate and even an insult by dozens of deputies towards the president of the House, the Labor Party's

Lindsay Hoyle,

in scenes that were not shown. they saw since Brexit.

Hundreds of Britons meanwhile demonstrated at the gates of Westminster and even projected the words "Cease fire now" on Big Ben with lights, while MPs continued to engage in their internal fights. The debate came within hours of Prince William issuing a rare statement expressing his

"concern about the human cost"

and calling for an end to the war.

Hoyle's intervention, giving priority to a Labor Party amendment to the detriment of the original motion of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the amendments of the Conservative Party, provoked

the closest thing to an insurrection

to the stupor of the British, who did not They had just understood what was happening.

Hoyle himself had to apologize for his decision and assured with a contrite gesture that "it was not my intention" to create chaos before the vote on such a critical issue. The SNP spokesman,

Stephen Flynn,

author of the original motion for an "immediate ceasefire" without further ado, condemned the parliamentary maneuvers as "a pantomime" to prevent the rebellion of dozens of Labor MPs against their leader,

Keir Starmer.

The conservatives, for their part, proposed a text calling for a "humanitarian pause." The "premier"

Rishi Sunak

went so far as to say hours before that "an immediate


ceasefire, without a plan for a permanent solution, is in no one's interest."

Tory spokesperson

Penny Mordaunt

accused the Speaker of the House of Commons of "hijacking" the debate and "subverting the trust" of MPs (more than thirty addressed letters calling for a motion of no confidence against Lindsay Hoyle). The Conservatives ultimately decided not to take part in the vote and Labour's amendment in favor of "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" was passed without opposition.