UK RECOGNISES THE STATE OF PALESTINE

Today is a day I have campaigned for 35 years - since I first travelled through Palestine as a teenager.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who has backed our campaign for Palestinian recognition and justice for the Palestinian people. I was one of the 58 rebels who broke the whip calling for a ceasefire when conflict began and I was one of the 255 MPs who called for Palestinian recognition. I know that I took these steps backed by huge support in our community.

The appalling situation in Palestine could not be more grave.

Palestinian civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank are facing a campaign at the hands of the Israeli military and settlers, the likes of which we have never seen before.

This is an existential moment for Palestine in the face of what the International Criminal Court itself has called war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The government has set out ways to surge in humanitarian aid - and now a decision to recognise Palestine. This is hugely welcome.

What difference does recognition make?

It affirms the equal right to self-determination for Palestinians as well as Israelis - at last matching Britain’s words with action. It upholds international law, as the International Court of Justice ruled the 1967 occupation unlawful and the Israeli settlements illegal. And it makes clear that a coalition of international partners are pushing for a just and lasting peace for Palestinians.

It challenges this Israeli Government’s claim to all of historic Palestine and underlines that Britain does not turn a blind eye to aggression and annexation. Recognition marks a shift: from silence to parity, from delay to justice. If it were merely symbolic, it would have happened years ago. But it’s not. And that’s exactly why it matters.

But this historic act of justice must be part of a wider set of actions to stop the killing

and starvation. That is why I am calling for TWELVE further steps in total to be taken right now:

I am calling for the UK Government to press for 12 urgent actions:

1. An immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages

2. Full humanitarian access to Gaza and removal of all aid restrictions

3. An end to all UK trade and investment with illegal Israeli settlements

4. Upholding of International Criminal Court arrest warrants including for Israeli leaders

5. Withdrawal of Israeli Defence Force personnel from UK military training

6. A comprehensive arms embargo on any weapons used in Gaza or the West Bank

7. Suspension of all talks on a new trade agreement with Israel

8. Removal of the UK Trade Envoy to Israel

9. Sanctions against violent settlers and extremist Israeli ministers

10. Rigorous enforcement of international law and accountability for war crimes

11. A published Government response to the ICJ advisory opinion on the occupation

12. Full implementation of ICJ provisional measures relating to genocide

No-one can support what Hamas did during their attacks, nor the kidnapping and murder of hostages. And it is important to recognise that the new Government has taken some important steps forward.

In recent months, the UK Government has sanctioned two extremist Israeli ministers, suspended a range of arms licenses, summoned the Israeli Ambassador and suspended negotiations with Israel on a new trade deal, arranged and signed a joint donor statement on behalf of 27 humanitarian partners on aid to Gaza, restored funding to URNWA and announced £101m in new humanitarian support for Palestine - and consistently called for a full and permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages - and dropped the Tory government’s objection to the ICC and arrest warrants.

I support these steps, but argue further action is necessary - and that we take these next steps quickly.

This is an important day. But it’s a step on a journey which does not and cannot end here.