“WALES MUST NOT BE COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE” – SIONED WILLIAMS MS

Sioned Williams MS urges Welsh Government to heed calls of Future Generational Commissioner over Gaza

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, has today called on the Welsh Government to ensure Wales is not complicit in what Amnesty International’s recent research has found to be genocide against Palestinians.

Speaking in First Minister’s questions, Ms Williams called on Welsh Government to advocate for an end to UK arms sales to Israel, and ensure all their activities or partnerships provide no support for companies implicated in the “unlawful and inhumane military action and occupation.”

Ms Williams also asked for the First Minister’s response to a letter from the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, in which he calls on the Welsh Government to take action under their responsibilities outlined in the Well-being of Future Generations Act, including their “commitment to future generations … beyond our borders.”

In response, the First Minister Eluned Morgan said that Welsh Government was “limited” in how they can respond.

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:

“Gaza is now the deadliest place in the world for children, has the highest rate of child malnutrition globally, and the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world. Welsh Government’s responsibilities under the Well-being of Future Generations Act – so clearly laid out in the Future Generations Commissioner’s letter to the First Minister – is to future generations beyond Wales’ borders. I back his calls on the First Minister to ‘go further’.

“It is not insignificant that Amnesty has confirmed that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. It’s incumbent on the Welsh Government to ensure that none of their activities or partnerships provide support for companies implicated in this unlawful and inhumane military action and occupation. Wales must not be complicit in this genocide.

“The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales makes clear that the Welsh Government has both power and responsibility to advocate for an end to UK arms sales to Israel, to call out Israel’s action as genocide, and to support calls for boycott, divestment and sanctions. The Welsh Government’s silence on this issue is deafening.”