A POLITICAL row has broken out between Stroud activists and their MP over calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

More than a hundred people have been holding silent and peaceful vigils outside Siobhan Baillie’s constituency office every Friday since October 27.

People of different faiths and none joined in silence to urge an immediate stop to the war in Gaza.

The vigil was organised by Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition to support the call to “all parties to immediately cease all military offensives and maintain restraint to prevent further escalation of violence that will only harm innocent civilians on all sides.”

They want Ms Baillie to support an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages along with the opening up of humanitarian relief.

But Ms Baillie says Hamas is a terror group which has made it clear it will not stop.

Councillor Robin Layfield (Community Independents, Rodborough) said: “We stand silently and peacefully holding candles outside our MP’s office to call for an end to the violence, an end to the bloodshed, an end to the needless deaths of children who are utterly innocent.

“Gaza urgently needs humanitarian relief, not a blockade. We call on our MP and all local politicians to support these simple demands for peace.”

Ms Baillie said the pain and suffering of all innocent victims and their families in Israel and Gaza is devastating.

She said everybody wants a ceasefire and peace but that needs two sides to cooperate.

“The work being done to try to get aid into Gaza is daily and the PM has repeatedly talked about the millions of UK funding going out to support Palestinians in Gaza alongside support for Israeli families and focus on bringing British nationals home," she said.

“Everybody wants a ceasefire and peace without delay.

“Yet what protesters and people sending me abuse about this issue are failing to admit is that a ceasefire needs two sides to cooperate.

“Hamas is a terror group and it has made it clear it will not stop. It is also holding Israeli hostages, some of whom are elderly and even a nine-month-old baby.

“Demanding an immediate ceasefire now when you know that Hamas will not cooperate appears to be asking Israel to stop protecting itself in the face of evil or ignoring the reality of Hamas."