Ms Nicholl has said: "On 7th October 2023, the world witnessed an unspeakable act of violence committed by Hamas, and today my thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted as we pay tribute to the victims and survivors of this tragedy.

“The brutality, bloodshed and destruction that followed in its aftermath will never be the route to lasting peace. We cannot ignore the reality of the genocidal actions which have been inflicted upon the innocent civilians of Gaza by the Israeli state, and the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank which are making achieving a two-state solution more difficult.

"Here at home, there is work to do in combatting the scourge of antisemitism in our society and we remain unwaveringly dedicated to that fight.

“All loss of life is devastating and every effort must be taken in order to prevent any further violence in the region. We must refocus our attention on creating the conditions for a lasting peace based on a two-state solution, including demanding an immediate ceasefire, allowing the free flow of humanitarian aid, and an end to the development of illegal settlements on Palestinian land."