“Almost two years into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, it is a mark of enduring shame that Keir Starmer’s Labour Party still refuses to call it what it is – a genocide.”
Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
By the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
A powerful new video released by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) features Steve Coogan, Paul Weller, Maxine Peake, Paloma Faith, Khalid Abdalla, Alex Lawther, Nadine Shah, Bilal Hasna, Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos and Brian Eno urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to call it what it is – a genocide. They demand the UK stop arming Israel and impose immediate sanctions.
The release coincides with Labour gathering in Liverpool for its party conference, which begins on Sunday. Multiple trade unions and Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) have submitted emergency motions in an attempt to force a vote on the conference floor after more than 30 resolutions on Palestine were blocked by party officials on the Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC).
The video highlights Starmer’s refusal to recognise Israel’s actions as genocide, but lists the growing number of bodies that do, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the UN Commission of Inquiry, the Liberal Democrats, and Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. The full text of the video is below. Last year the Prime Minister told the House of Commons: “I am well aware of the definition of genocide, and that is why I have never described this [Israel’s war on Gaza] as a genocide.”
Just days after the UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, Labour blocked more than 30 contemporary motions – a record number on Palestine – from reaching party conference, prompting Labour MP Clive Lewis to accuse Labour of “silencing debate on Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” Recent polling has found that 72% of Labour’s 2024 voters want a full arms embargo and 64% want Israel expelled from the UN.
In response, Labour members and trade unions have submitted an unprecedented wave of emergency motions. Labour’s Conference Arrangement Committee (CAC) met at 4pm on Saturday (27 September) to decide if the motions will be debated and voted on. (Update 29 September – In a historic vote, delegates at Labour Party Conference voted to accept that Israel is committing a genocide in Palestine and to demand comprehensive sanctions, including a full arms embargo, in line with its obligations under international law.)
The CAC is made up of trade union officials and party members, with the latter having been elected on the leadership-aligned ‘Labour to Win’ slate. According to Labour’s rules, emergency motions must “be a matter of urgent and immediate importance to the discussion by the whole Labour Party” and have arisen after the closing date for contemporary motions, Thursday 11 September. The emergency motions submitted meet this criteria: they cite the recognition of Palestine (21 September), the UN Commission of Inquiry report confirming genocide in Gaza (16 September), and the beginning of Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza City (16 September). Below is the text of some of the submitted emergency motions.
PSC led a major national demonstration in Liverpool, with thousands marching. Labour MPs John McDonnell and Ian Byrne were among those addressing the crowd.
PSC’s video features Alex Lawther (actor), Bilal Hasna (actor and playwright), Brian Eno (musician and record producer), Denise Gough (actor), Khalid Abdalla (actor), Juliet Stevenson (actor), Maxime Peake (actor), Paloma Faith (musician), Paul Weller (musician), Stephen Kapos (activist and Holocaust survivor), and Steve Coogan (actor and comedian).
Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said:
“Almost two years into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, it is a mark of enduring shame that Keir Starmer’s Labour Party still refuses to call it what it is – a genocide – and take meaningful action to end Britain’s complicity.
It is no surprise that an unprecedented influx of motions on Palestine have been sent to Labour’s annual conference, demanding the Government stands up for the rights of the Palestinian people. The Prime Minister must listen to this growing public outrage and acknowledge the genocide, sanction Israel, and end all arms sales.”
Actor Khalid Abdalla said:
“Gaza is Keir Starmer’s Iraq. The refusal of his government to use the word genocide is a craven way of evading Britain’s legal obligations under the Genocide Convention. It is both a moral and political failure that is eroding our democracy, and which will stain the Labour Party, and Britain for decades. We must do everything in our power to end British complicity in ‘the crime of crimes’, and stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Our collective future depends on it.”
Mick Whelan, General Secretary of ASLEF Union said:
“International solidarity has been and always will be a cornerstone of the trade union movement. The Labour leadership needs to put a stop to these underhand attempts to silence members, allow motions on Gaza to be heard and immediately recognise the genocide being carried out against the Palestinian people. At the absolute minimum this must be backed by concrete action, including an arms embargo on Israel and meaningful sanctions to end complicity in these crimes.”
Emergency motion passed by CLPs and affiliated organisations:
Conference notes:
- On 21 September, Britain formally recognised the State of Palestine. Minister for Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer has said that ‘this is not just a gesture, it is a statement of intent.’
- On 16 September, a UN Commission of Inquiry report found that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
- The Commission called on all Member States, including the UK, to “employ all means reasonably available to them to prevent the commission of genocide in the Gaza Strip”.
- Alongside the ongoing genocide case against Israel at the ICJ, the report adds to a growing international consensus finding that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, which also includes the International Association of Genocide Scholars and Amnesty International, as well London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Conference believes:
- To be more than a gesture, recognition must be accompanied by concrete measures.
- This UN report must mark a watershed in Britain’s foreign policy.
Conference accepts the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry and calls on the government to:
- Employ all means reasonably available to it to prevent the commission of genocide in Gaza.
- Ban trade that aids or assists Israel’s violations of international law, including with illegal settlements.
- Impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel, including a full arms embargo and ending military cooperation.
- Ensure individuals and corporations in the UK are not involved in aiding and assisting the genocide.
- You can view the video here.
- You can follow the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Bluesky and TikTok.
- This article is based on a press release issued by the PSC on 26/9/2025.
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