PM said the UK and its allies were considering sanctions against Israel and that his government had already suspended talks on a free trade agreement
Israel’s actions in Gaza are “appalling and intolerable,” the UK Prime Minister Keir Starter said on Wednesday amid growing international pressure to stop the slaughter of Palestinians. Aid agencies and governments around the world have all condemned the killing of dozens of Palestinians this week as they tried to access food distribution sites in the decimated territory.
It follows growing opposition in Europe to Israel’s military campaign, with the UK, France, Germany and Italy becoming increasingly critical of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. “Israel’s recent action is appalling, and in my view counterproductive and intolerable, and we have strongly opposed the expansion of military operations and settler violence and the blocking of humanitarian aid,” Starmer told MPs.
He said the UK and its allies were considering sanctions against Israel and that his government had already suspended talks on a free trade agreement. That step was announced after the UK, France, and Canada issued a joint statement last month threatening “concrete actions” against Israel if it did not halt its military operation in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
France and Saudi Arabia are organising a UN conference this month about a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. France has already said it is considering recognising the Palestinian state during the conference.
Starmer did not answer whether the UK would follow suit and recognise a Palestinian when asked in parliament Wednesday. However, Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer told MPs that the government was reconsidering its position on Palestinian statehood. Falconer said he was “appalled” by the killings of Palestinians this week as they gathered to approach a new aid distribution hub.
“We call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events for the perpetrators to be held to account,” he said. Dozens of MPs from both the main political parties have signed letters in recent months calling for Palestine to be recognised.
Starmer is facing fierce criticism from within his own Labour Party to take a tougher line on Israel. Labour MP Paula Barker said history “will not be kind” to his government unless action is taken. ” What more evidence do we need to call this exactly what it is? A deliberate policy of annexation and genocide,” she said.
Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan called for Netanyahu and “the other murderous figures who are responsible” to be sanctioned. “Words are not enough,” she said, as she called for a date for when the government would impose restrictions on them. Labour MP Paula Barker said the history books “will not be kind” to the government unless action is taken. “What more evidence do we need to call this exactly what it is? A deliberate policy of annexation and genocide,” she added. Her call for the government to acknowledge that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza was echoed by a number of MPs. Falconer said that it was a matter for a “competent court to determine”.
He added that he understood their frustrations, and promised further action if the UK could not persuade the Israeli government to “change course”. Israel says it is working to destroy the Palestinian armed group Hamas and get back hostages they have taken. It has strongly denied allegations of genocide, claims which are also being examined by the International Court of Justice.
The government is also facing calls to “urgently” recognise the state of Palestine – including from Conservative MP and former attorney general Jeremy Wright. Jeremy told MPs he he had changed his mind the timeframe for such a move – traditionally seen as being part of a “two-state solution” – over the rhetoric coming from the Israeli government.
During the debate, protesters gathered outside Parliament to demand the end of arms sales to Israel, something that was repeatedly echoed by MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The MP, who now sits as an independent, is calling for a public inquiry to uncover what he called the “murky history of what’s gone on, the murky arms sales and the complicity in appalling acts of genocide”.
He has tabled a draft bill to set up an inquiry to examine the “any UK military, economic or political cooperation” with Israel, with powers to question ministers and officials. The bill is backed by prominent left-wing Labour MPs including Diane Abbott and Richard Burgon, four independent MPs, two Greens and members of Plaid Cymru and the SNP.
It has been scheduled for debate on 4 July, but is unlikely to become law without government backing. Corbyn was among the MPs calling for a total embargo on the sale of arms to Israel – including parts for F-35 fighter jets.
Hamish Falconer said the UK had already taken steps to “ensure that weapons directly for use in Gaza have been suspended,” and had stopped supplying F-35 parts “directly to Israel”. But he said the UK would continue to supply parts to the “global pool” of F-35 spares, as this was needed to help “the defence of Nato allies” and support the Ukraine war effort.
