Good Afternoon,

In this latest edition of my newsletter on the situation in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the wider Middle East region, I want to update you on some of the primary developments since my last update, which you can read here. I will also outline the work I have been doing as your parliamentary representative since then.  

Ongoing Attacks on Lebanon 

The ongoing attacks on Lebanon by Israel are deeply alarming. Since 2 March, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed at least 2,896 people, injured over 8,824, and displaced more than 1.6 million, about 20% of the country’s population, according to the Lebanese Government. The UN Children’s Fund has reported that at least 200 children have been killed. 

This is despite there having been a ceasefire in place since the 17th April. Of those killed, 512 have died since the implementation of the ceasefire. 

Negotiations continue between Lebanon and Israel in the US. Lebanese officials are hopeful that it could bring about a new ceasefire agreement and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. But analysts are deeply sceptical, as Israel continues to attack Lebanon and Hezbollah continues to retaliate. 

I have been proud of the Government’s humanitarian response thus far. On 16 March 2026, Yvette Cooper announced over £5 million in additional emergency humanitarian funding. A month later, on 16 April, Hamish Falconer announced £20.5 million in new support. This now brings total funding since March to £30 million.

The UK’s leadership will help support local humanitarian partners and ensure that the millions of people affected are supported. 



I truly hope a ceasefire will be agreed and that no more innocent civilians are caught up in this awful conflict. 

The expansion of illegal Israeli settlements continues to blight Palestinians and rob them of their land and their very livelihood. 

A recent UN report found that, and I quote: “The Government of Israel has accelerated unlawful settlement expansion and annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, forcibly displacing over 36,000 Palestinians amid increasing violence by Israeli security forces.” 

As Israel continues to move ahead with the E1 settlement plan, I was pleased to see an open letter published, signed by 448 impressive public figures, calling for the EU and its member states to impose targeted sanctions on those involved. I fully support their letter, and I am pleased to see that the Government continues to sanction those responsible. 

As you will likely already be aware, trade with these illegal settlements directly enables the continued crisis and empowers the same institutions and businesses involved in the expansions. 

That is why, after meeting with Amnesty UK, I wrote to the CEO of Sainsbury’s demanding clarity on their trade arrangements. 

You can see my letter and their response here:

Justice for Palestine and Medical Aid for Palestine Fundraiser 

I recently attended a Justice for Palestine and Medical Aid for Palestine fundraiser. As some of you may remember, earlier this year I had the honour of meeting three students from Gaza who received scholarships to study here at the University of Warwick. I was delighted to invite them, so others could hear more about their stories and how they have settled at Warwick.  

It was also great to welcome the guest speaker Chris Doyle, the Head of the Council for Arab British Understanding (CAABU). Chris has done so much brilliant work on this area, so it is always great to connect and discuss further steps we can take together.  

 It is absolutely vital that we get funds into Palestine, Gaza, and the West Bank to help support those rebuilding their entire lives following the brutal attacks and displacement by the Israeli Government. I will continue to support these important fundraising efforts wherever I can.

Visiting Israel and Palestine 

In the coming weeks I will visit Israel and Palestine on a Parliamentary delegation organised by Yachad. The trip is an opportunity to see first-hand what is going on and to get a better understanding of the challenges facing the Palestinian people. I am sure you will understand that I am unable to say more at this time, but I will provide a detailed report in due course. 

Further to my previous updates, I would like to share with you the correspondence I have had with this Labour Government, which I have not covered above or I have received a response from since the previous newsletters.

Please click on the links below to read more:

What is your position on UK support for the US war on Iran, i.e. the use of UK military bases? 

I recognise the strength of feeling on this. It is my view that the Prime Minister has struck the right balance in this conflict and has acted in the national interest. 

As I understand it, the UK has allowed the US to use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites that are targeting the Strait of Hormuz. This is a purely defensive operation, which protects the lives and interests of the UK.  

This is different from being engaged with the US in an offensive capacity, something I am proud the UK stayed out of, and something I would have opposed, if we had joined the war with them. 

It is important to note the strategic relationship we have with the US for intelligence and military operations.  

As much as I disagree with their political leadership, our security cooperation is so deeply ingrained throughout both the UK and US’s intelligence systems, that there are areas where we must co‑operate.  

It simply is not feasible for the Prime Minister to refuse the US access to all our bases for all purposes. It is with this in mind, and with the importance of protecting our own national interests, that I believe this is the correct decision. The Prime Minister has my full support.

Will you sign EDM 2822? 

EDM 2822 calls on the UK Government to ban trade and investment in goods and services with illegal Israeli settlements, impose targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on all individuals and entities complicit in Israel’s occupation, suspend the UK–Israel trade agreement until Israel complies with international law, and impose an arms embargo on Israel. 

I no longer sign EDMs, as I do not believe they are an effective parliamentary mechanism for change, but I want to be clear on my position in relation to this. 

The Government and I consider Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestine to be illegal under international law. The West Bank is a key part of a future Palestinian state, and I do not support any plans to forcibly displace Palestinians from, or reduce the territory of, Occupied Palestine. 

I strongly condemn Israeli Government decisions to expand control over the West Bank and to expand illegal settlements. 

As I wrote earlier, I have written to Sainsbury’s to raise concerns about trade with illegal settlements, you can see the letter here.

Finally...

I am immensely thankful for your continued engagement with me on these matters. I would like to reassure you that all correspondence is read and considered ahead of related parliamentary or constituency activities.  



As always, if I have missed any topics or areas of concern in this edition, please let me know so I can cover them next time. 

Kind regards, 

Matt Western 

MP for Warwick and Leamington