Dear Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Tim Loughton MP,

We, the undersigned residents of Worthing West and East Worthing & Shoreham, urge you, our representatives, to demand an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to all arms sales to Israel and unimpeded admission of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Our community is horrified at the ongoing devastation and killing of civilians we are witnessing. To date, Israel has killed over 14,000 children – equivalent to double the entire primary school population of Worthing.

A full-scale invasion of Rafah is imminent, where 1.4 million people including 610,000 children are sheltering in already inhumane conditions with limited food and water supplies and nowhere left to go. We demand that you do everything in your power to end the UK’s arms sales to Israel, push for an immediate permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages and call for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.

In February, the Foreign Secretary stated his “deep concern about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah” adding that “we do not underestimate the devastating humanitarian impact that a full ground offensive, if enacted, would have”. How can the UK government express this concern and at the same time continue to sell Israel the weapons used to kill civilians there?

This letter has been signed from people within our community from all faiths, backgrounds and political views. This is an issue of humanity that concerns us all and we want to see our representatives respond accordingly.

An immediate ceasefire and end to arms sales will not be enough to secure true justice, liberation and equality for Palestinians, but they represent an urgent and indispensable first step. We plead for an end to all violence, an end to all oppression and denial of human rights, and a path towards a just and sustainable peace for all.