Paul Bristow sacked by Rishi Sunak after calling for ceasefire in Gaza

A minister in Rishi Sunak‘s authorities has been sacked after he referred to as for a direct ceasefire in Gaza.

No.10 stated Tory MP Paul Bristow left his job as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) on the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology after urging Mr Sunak to again a everlasting ceasefire in Gaza.

It got here simply hours after the previous PPS to Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan wrote to the prime minister telling him a ceasefire would save lives.

He stated Palestinian civilians had been dealing with “collective punishment” on account of Israel‘s siege and marketing campaign of airstrikes within the wake of Hamas‘s assault on October 7.

Downing Street stated the Peterborough MP was requested to go away his job as a PPS for breaking rank. Mr Bristow has been approached for remark.

Mr Bristow’s letter, dated Thursday (October 26), seems to have been deleted from his web site, however stays on Facebook.

The MP wrote he felt “deeply grieved by the heart-breaking and devastating humanitarian crisis” unfolding in Gaza, having spoken with constituents and assembly with the Peterborough Joint Mosques Council.

He stated he welcomed Mr Sunak’s name for what he termed “specific pauses” within the combating to permit humanitarian assist to enter Gaza, which is residence to greater than two million individuals.

But Mr Bristow added: “A permanent ceasefire would save lives and allow for a continued column of humanitarian aid (to) reach the people who need it the most.

“The brutal Hamas assaults in opposition to harmless civilians are unforgivable. Hostages must be launched. It is difficult to know how the current technique of bombing Gaza will result in the discharge of hostages.”

Mr Bristow added “atypical individuals” were “not Hamas”, with the group’s assaults on Israel condemned as “brutal” and “unforgivable”.

He accompanied an image of the letter on social media with the comment Palestinians should not “undergo collective punishment for the crimes of Hamas” – action which could be deemed a war crime.

The sacking is evidence of divisions within the Conservative Party which has largely avoided the kind of public splits Labour has seen over Sir Keir Starmer’s position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.