British-Palestinian MP releases audio of family’s plight in Gaza church

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Layla Moran has released an audio message of her family’s plight in a church compound in Gaza, where they are sheltering from an Israeli siege and bombardment.

In a tearful message, Ms Moran’s cousin said that her mother had been “locked in” to her room, because the Catholic church was surrounded by Israeli snipers.

People are afraid to go to the toilet after two women were shot and killed on Saturday. The relative’s mother had nothing left but a can of tinned corn to eat, according to the recording that was sent to Ms Moran, the first British-Palestinian MP.

Although the Israeli military told Ms Moran that food had been delivered, her family said they had not seen it.

People sheltering in the church could starve, the cousin said. “If people didn’t die from the missiles they will die from hunger,” she said.

Ms Moran’s family are among the hundreds of Palestinian Christians believed to be sheltering in the church after they were displaced by Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

Speaking in Parliament today, Ms Moran re-iterated her relatives’ plight, and stressed the innocence of the people sheltering in the church complex.

“They have nothing to do with Hamas. They are nuns, orphans, disabled people. They are a small Christian community and they know everyone,” she said.

“It is categorically untrue to say that Hamas operates from there,” she said.

She feared a continuation of the war would take Israelis and Palestinians farther from peace. “This violence is making peace harder, not easier,” she said.

Ms Moran spoke ahead of a UN Security Council resolution vote on Tuesday for a “suspension of hostilities”.