Ed Miliband criticises ‘so called ceasefire’ after the deaths of more than 1,200 Palestinians since it came into force

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has criticised the ‘so called ceasefire’ in Gaza which has left more than 1,200 Palestinians dead after it came into effect.

Miliband made the comments during an appearance on The Rest is Politics podcast and told presenters Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell: “All of us condemn in the strongest terms the murder that Hamas did on October the 7th, but nothing can justify what has unfolded in Gaza since then.

“And actually, you know, it’s worth saying since the ceasefire, the so-called ceasefire, 1,200 Palestinians have been killed.

“You know, that is not much of a ceasefire.”

The comments came after Miliband passed some of the strongest criticisms of Israel’s actions ever issued by the the UK government last week.

Miliband accused Israel of “turning a blind eye” to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians living in the West Bank, who are increasingly under pressure to relocate from settlers.

He told Parliament that Britain will sanction goods and services from Israeli settlements – which are illegal under international law – in the occupied West Bank and set out an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

There’s also a ban on the advertising in the UK of illegal settlement properties and a new ban for arms licences and other exports that “materially contribute to the occupation”.