It was wonderful to host a coffee morning for local residents today at Tooting United Reform Church. It was brilliant to welcome residents from Tooting and Furzedown. I am really grateful to everyone who attended, including some local organisations and charities who do invaluable work in the community.

Many people in Gaza were already living in appalling conditions before this latest conflict. If the Israeli bombardment continues and aid doesn't get through, I really fear for the consequences. Today, I appeared on Peston to reiterate calls for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. Every effort needs to be made to work towards a peaceful solution. See my clip here:

Today in Parliament, I challenged the Foreign Secretary to call on his Israeli counterpart to demand an immediate ceasefire to the escalating crisis in Gaza. While rightly calling out Hamas’ horrific attacks, we also have a duty to speak on behalf of those innocent Palestinians who are being collectively punished, starved and bombed in their own homes by Israeli forces. See my question here:

Tonight, I held a peace vigil at Tooting Broadway station to bring our community together to remember all those who have died in Israel and Gaza recently. I want to pay a huge thanks to the representatives from our local religious groups who said a prayer for peace.

During some of our darkest hours, Tooting reminds us that there is always hope.

​Today marks International Stammer Awareness Day. I know from my own experience, the impact the stigma of stammering has on those affected.

We must not create a narrative of trying to fix people with speech disfluency. Instead we need to work to create a more inclusive society.

Today, I was on BBC Politics Live ahead of Prime Minister Questions, to discuss the conflict in Israel and Gaza, free speech and the drinking culture in Westminster. 

The Government is dragging its feet on reforming mental health services – it's costing people their lives. 

I asked the Minister if she will keep her promise to reform the Mental Health Act - there was no answer. This is a Government out of ideas. We need a General Election now.

Tonight, I invited Wandsworth Police to join our community to discuss how they’re working with Wandsworth Council to tackle violence against women and girls.
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Making our community safe is a key priority for me. My door is always open. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Palestinians must not pay the collective price for the acts of terror carried out by Hamas. World leaders have a duty to ensure Israel doesn’t deliberately indiscriminately target civilians.

​In Parliament today, I sought assurances from the Prime Minister regarding Gaza:
- Incendiary weapons won't be used in civilian areas.
- Hospitals/medics won't be targeted.
- Food, water and electricity immediately restored.
- No occupation of Gaza.

​The Hamas attacks on Israel in recent days were horrific. The brutal murder of innocent civilians in their own homes, killing innocent festivalgoers, raping women and taking children hostage must be condemned in the strongest possible terms - nothing can justify it. Those who planned and carried out the attacks must face justice.

We have not been close to peace in the region, but there is no doubt that these attacks, and the response from Israel, will set us back many years. This will be devastating for the many innocent people in Israel and Palestine who just want peace. I fear it will be innocent men, women and children from Gaza who are going to pay the price for Hamas' attacks. I have been very critical of Netanyahu throughout the years, and I really do worry about what the next few days and weeks will bring.

The cutting off of water, gas and electricity supplies breaches a whole host of internationally recognised laws. Refusing to allow aid in and stopping food supplies will hit the most vulnerable the hardest. Countless innocent lives will be lost and the international community must work on a resolution that de-escalates the conflict as soon as possible.

The discourse I've seen on Twitter has appalled me in recent days, which is why I have decided to post this on my website, instead of there. I have worked as a humanitarian doctor in the region, spanning a period of over a decade. I've always sought the recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state, and my views have not changed, I believe it is the only way to achieve peace in the region. But I will also call out barbaric attacks when they occur. The rape and murder of innocent civilians should be called out and I'm sure the vast majority of people will share my disgust.