Nearly 60 Labour MPs have called on the UK government to immediately recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, warning that "Israel’s" latest actions in Gaza amount to ethnic cleansing.

In a public letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Saturday, the MPs cited "Israel’s" announced plan to forcibly relocate all Palestinians in Gaza to a displacement camp in the ruins of Rafah. They described the move as "an operational plan for crimes against humanity," and unequivocally labeled it as part of the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

The signatories urged the UK to break from its cautious approach and take urgent action, not only to stop the forced transfer but also to recognize Palestinian statehood as a necessary step toward viable peace.

The intervention follows mounting international pressure, including recent calls by French President Emmanuel Macron for European nations to collectively recognize Palestine. The MPs warned that continued inaction sends the wrong signal and undermines Britain’s long-stated support for a two-state solution.

MPs demand concrete action beyond humanitarian aid

While the UK has resumed some funding for UNRWA and voiced support for a ceasefire, the MPs demand more tangible action, including:

1. Immediate recognition of the State of Palestine
2. A trade blockade on illegal Israeli settlements
3. Stronger diplomatic pressure to halt the forced transfer of Palestinians

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The group’s statement marks the most public and coordinated push within Parliament to shift UK foreign policy since October 2023. Among the signatories are Labour Friends of Palestine chairs Sarah Owen and Andrew Pakes, and prominent MPs like Clive Lewis, Stella Creasy, and Diane Abbott.

Growing parliamentary discontent over Gaza

The letter is the latest in a series of escalating challenges to the UK government’s policy regarding the war on Gaza. In recent months, Labour MPs have worn red “Stop Arming Israel” pins in Parliament, demanded arms embargoes, and backed motions for an immediate ceasefire.

A cross-party coalition of 65 MPs has also demanded that the UK disclose genocide risk assessments regarding "Israel’s" war on Gaza, a demand yet to be fulfilled, reflecting a significant split between government rhetoric and parliamentary sentiment.

What does the British public think?

Additionally, polling data underscores a deep disconnect between government policy and public opinion:

• 73% of Britons support an immediate ceasefire
• 62% back sanctions on "Israel"
• 65% support halting arms exports
• 65% say the UK should enforce ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu if issued

Perhaps most significantly, 45% of the UK public believes "Israel’s" actions in Gaza amount to genocide. Among Labour voters, that figure rises to 59%.

Additionally, the British Medical Association (BMA) recently voted, with 80% support, to suspend its ties with the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), citing the IMA’s failure to condemn attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system amid the ongoing Israeli genocide.

Despite this, the UK has continued to export military equipment to "Israel" and maintain intelligence cooperation throughout the conflict.

UK is complicit in Gaza genocide

While the UK government suspended 30 of 350 arms export licenses to "Israel" in 2024, it continues to supply vital components for the F-35 fighter jets used in bombing campaigns over Gaza. Since July 2024, the UK has approved £169 million worth of military exports to "Israel," more than the previous four years combined.

Surveillance flights from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus have sparked concern. While officially described as efforts to locate Israeli captives, critics contend the intelligence gathered is later used in airstrikes targeting civilians. Additionally, Foreign Office staff have warned David Lammy that the UK could be complicit in potential war crimes.

Political pressure mounts ahead of policy shifts

The Labour government, elected in mid-2024, has shifted its rhetoric, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Lammy recently labeling Israeli actions “egregious.” But critics say the policy has not kept pace with the rhetoric.

With growing pressure from within Parliament, across party lines, and from a disillusioned public, the UK’s role in the war on Gaza is increasingly under scrutiny. Whether the government will act on calls to recognize Palestine and end arms exports remains to be seen.