My Statement on Palestinian Statehood
I am horrified by the appalling, unrelenting scenes in Gaza including starvation, desperation, and suffering of children and babies.
On 25th July 2025, I joined MPs on a cross-party basis in calling for Britain to recognise the State of Palestine ahead of the UN conference that is taking place in New York at the end of July 2025. A copy of this letter can be found here.
On 29th July 2025, the Prime Minister announced that this Government is on a pathway to recognising the State of Palestine in September, before the United Nations General Assembly, unless the Israeli Government takes steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agrees a ceasefire, allows UN aid to flow without delay, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank. Hamas - the terrorist organisation responsible for the unfathomable atrocity on October 7th - must never be rewarded. It must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to an immediate ceasefire, lay down its arms, and accept they will play no part in the government of Gaza. These demands are absolute, and there can be no resolution to this conflict or security for the Israeli people until they are met.
I am pleased to see the Prime Minister make this important commitment. I have repeatedly called for the urgent recognition of the State of Palestine, including by adding my name to a letter organised by Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East addressed to the Foreign Secretary. This letter, dated 10th July 2025, raised serious concerns about the Israeli Defence Minister’s reported plans to forcibly transfer all Palestinian civilians in Gaza to a camp in the devastated city of Rafah, without allowing them to leave. It called for the recognition of the State of Palestine, continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the immediate and full resumption of humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages, and a thorough review of trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The full letter can be read here.
The 2024 Labour Manifesto stated that Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. This is not in the gift of any neighbour, and is essential to the long-term security of Israel, and is part of a wider plan for peace aimed at ending the suffering in Gaza and re-establishing a pathway to a two-state solution.
I remain committed to working towards a renewed peace process and the two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
As your MP, I am continuing to speak up and take action in support of the people of Gaza during this devastating crisis. In the House of Commons, I questioned the Minister on what more the British Government can do to ensure that food and medicine reach all those in need- particularly the 93% of children in Gaza, around 930,000, who are facing starvation. This situation is utterly unacceptable. You can watch my question here.
This Plan for Peace is an ambitious one. It builds on the concrete actions this Labour government has taken since coming into office - from suspending arms licenses, sanctioning far right Israeli ministers and suspending trade negotiations, to our nearly a quarter of a billion pounds of humanitarian support, our support for hostage families and our landmark agreement with the Palestinian Authority. We will keep acting until we reach the goal of peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.