Israel is carrying out a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, three of the people standing to be Slough’s next MP have said.

Azhar Chohan, Diana Coad and Adnan Shabbir each made the claim at an election debate hosted by the East Berkshire branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Candidates were asked whether they supported a ceasefire and whether they would uphold international law.

Independent candidate Diana Coad said she supported an immediate ceasefire, describing Israel’s campaign as ‘genocide'.

She said: “It is genocide – 500lb bombs, white phosphorous, depriving them of food and water – it’s genocide, you can’t describe it as anything else.”

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Azhar Chohan, backed by the national Independent Network, called on the United States and the European Union to ‘tell the bitter truth to the Israeli government – stop abusing, stop killing people'.

He said: “There is a genocide. This is ethnic cleansing going on. Whether we like it or not that’s the reality and that must stop.”

And Adnan Shabbir of the Workers Party of Britain said: “The current genocide and the unconditional support of the two party system have made so many people angry.

“So many people have come out in numbers and I’m not just talking about Muslims, I’m talking about all of the communities.”

He added: “All that we’re asking for is a ceasefire.”

The three were the only candidates to attend the hustings on Friday, June 28. Other candidates told the Observer they had been unable to attend.

Labour candidate Tan Dhesi was not available for comment. In a video statement on June 18 he said he supported a ceasefire. He said: “Please rest assured I’ll continue to be a strong voice for human rights, peace in the Middle East, recognition for Palestine and a two state solution.”

Moni Nanda told the Observer she was unable to attend due to a long-standing commitment to a family that she didn’t want to let down. She said she supported ‘an immediate and sustainable ceasefire'.

She said: There’s too many lives that have been lost. Anyone who is half decent is pro-peace more than anything.”

A spokesperson for Liberal Democrat Chelsea Whyte said she had been unable to attend due to a prior engagement. Ms White has previously told the Observer that the Liberal Democrats have campaigned for ‘an immediate ceasefire since October 2023, at a time when other political parties refused to do so'.

Green candidate Julian Edmonds said he backed a ceasefire, but that he only supports a Palestinian state if it has free and fair elections.

Reform candidate Robin Jackson told the Observer the war in Gaza is a ‘travesty'. He has previously told the Friends of Al-Aqsa campaign group that he supports a ceasefire.

Independent candidate Chandra Muvvala said the hustings had clashed with a meet and greet session he was hosting. He said he supported a ceasefire as well as a pause on arms sales with Israel.

Heritage Party candidate Nick Smith was contacted for comment.