Labour Party members are urging Keir Starmer to acknowledge that Israel is engaging in genocide in Gaza. A motion led by Unison, which called for a complete halt to arms sales to Israel following a UN report accusing Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of genocide, was supported, marking a setback for the government.
During a passionate speech, Unison’s General Secretary Christina McAnea appealed for the party to recognize the gravity of the situation. She emphasized the devastating impact of the events on October 7, 2023, with 65,000 Palestinian lives lost and Gaza facing a dire humanitarian crisis. McAnea stressed the urgency of the situation, stating that waiting for legal confirmation would be too late as the atrocities are ongoing.
“We cannot stand idly by as innocent lives are lost, and we must take action to prevent further suffering,” McAnea stated, highlighting the Labour Party’s historical commitment to peace in the Middle East.
The non-binding emergency motion passed, calling on the Government to utilize all available means to prevent genocide in Gaza, suspend arms trade with Israel, and halt the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement. It also demanded a prohibition on trading with illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy emphasized the government’s responsibility to intervene to prevent genocide.
On September 16, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry declared that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
