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The Scottish National Party’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza has been labelled “simplistic and unrealistic” by one Caerphilly county borough MP – while another suggested it was closer to a ‘slogan’ rather than a ‘real’ solution.

Members of Parliament voted on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after a motion was tabled by the SNP. 

The vote, on November 15, was one of several proposed amendments to the King’s Speech and was ultimately defeated by 294 votes to 125 votes.

The vote has caused division in the Labour Party after 56 Labour MPs voted for an immediate ceasefire – breaking with party leader Sir Keir Starmer’s order to abstain. 

Ten frontbenchers, including Afzal Khan and Jess Phillips, left their roles to back the motion. 

This comes after Hamas gunmen initiated an attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and more than 200 hostages, according to the BBC. 

In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on Gaza and launched a ground offensive. The Hamas-run health ministry reports a death toll surpassing 11,500 individuals.

The Labour Party’s official position backs “humanitarian pauses”.

However, the Labour Party also tabled a separate amendment to that of the SNP and called for “an enduring of cessation of fighting”. 

This was backed by 160 Labour MPs but also ultimately defeated. 

How did borough MPs vote? 

Three Members of Parliament represent constituents across Caerphilly County Borough.

All three are Labour MPs and include Caerphilly’s Wayne David, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney’s Gerald Jones, and Chris Evans for Islwyn.

Mr David abstained on the immediate ceasefire motion tabled by the SNP and backed Labour’s motion for “an enduring cessation of fighting”.

Mr David told Caerphilly Observer: “Labour called for “an enduring cessation of fighting”. We did not support the amendment from the SNP because their amendment was simplistic and unrealistic. 

“As well as failing to mention important factors (such as the need to end settler violence on the West Bank), it of course called for an immediate ceasefire. While I wish to see this terrible conflict come to an end as quickly as possible, a ceasefire would inevitably take some time to arrange. 

“The starting point in any ceasefire arrangement is the desire of both warring factions to stop fighting. Both Israel and the terrorist group Hamas have indicated that they will not accept a ceasefire at this stage. 

“We might not like it, but this is the reality. It is far better to place pressure on both Israel and Hamas to allow meaningful humanitarian pauses in the conflict. These can be used to lay the basis for a ceasefire, which will hold and set the foundations for a lasting two-state solution.”

Like Mr David, Gerald Jones MP abstained from the SNP motion and backed the Labour motion. 

Mr Jones told Caerphilly Observer: “The situation in Gaza and Israel is truly heart-breaking.

“Let me be crystal clear: Labour MPs did not vote against a ceasefire. We all want to see an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine. I want to see this as soon as possible.

“But wanting a ceasefire and securing one are, of course, two different things. Last night’s vote was never going to make a ceasefire happen. A ceasefire requires both parties to come to an agreement, but Hamas have said, through their spokespeople in the media, that they intend to carry out similar attacks again and again until Israel is destroyed.

“There needs to be a political resolution to this conflict. I have always supported a two-state solution: a State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel. This is also Labour’s position.

“In politics, it can be too easy to reach for slogans, especially to please the crowd.  But it’s our responsibility to reach for real solutions. That is why I voted for the Labour amendment that explicitly called for an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine, reaffirmed our commitment to international law, and called on Israel to protect hospitals and lift the siege conditions allowing food, water, electricity, and medicine into Gaza.”

Chris Evans MP told Caerphilly Observer he was unable to attend the vote for personal reasons and was “off the whip”.