“The UK must change path and show that it will listen to the calls of the public it represents and is willing to stand up for international law.”
By Malaka El-Gammal
This pledge card, drafted jointly by Caabu and the Britain Palestine Project, outlines five measures that would build on the Government’s recognition of Palestine through immediate policy changes and apply the same principles of international law that Labour has defended in Ukraine: no acquisition of territory by force, no impunity for attacks on civilians, and no selective respect for International Law.
It is crucial that the new Prime Minister follow these pledges for several reasons, namely, to respect international law as well as its own electorate. While the comments from Andy Burnham apologising for Labour’s mistakes and implying a shift in policy on this issue are welcome, words must be followed by tangible action.
For many years, Britain has selectively applied international law. Despite recognising that settlements are a flagrant violation of international law, successive governments have not imposed a ban on trading with them. A shift in this position is long overdue. This is a bare minimum demand, particularly in light of the ICJ Advisory Opinion which says that third countries have the legal obligation not to render any aid or assistance to the occupation. The UK should not be trailing behind its European allies on this and wait for others to impose a settlement ban but instead be leading the way.
It is incumbent on any new Prime Minister to ensure that the UK takes a key role in showing that settlement trade is unacceptable and that it will be met with legal consequences.
Despite the so-called “ceasefire” in Gaza, the situation is only getting worse. Disease is spreading due to lack of infrastructure and sanitation systems, hospitals have collapsed, schools are inoperable, and people live in tents amongst the rubble. Israel continues its blockade of Gaza and continues to strike civilians, including humanitarian, health workers, and journalists. Only last week, the head of the Egyptian Relief Committee and World Cup screenings organiser, Mohamed al-Wahidi, was killed in an airstrike, alongside two children, just hours before Egypt were due to play Argentina.
The UK not only needs to ensure that these actions are met with accountability, but it is also vital for the government to ensure that full humanitarian access is given to Gaza and there is a proper reconstruction process. This means unrestricted access for UN agencies and humanitarian organisations. While the UK has been unequivocal in its support of the full resumption of aid, Israeli withdrawal, and a Palestinian-led reconstruction and has refused to participate in the controversial Board of Peace, concrete action is necessary. It must show that there will be diplomatic, trade, and sanctions consequences for Israel, should they keep obstructing aid and occupying Gaza.
Genocide scholars, human rights organisations such as Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, and the UN Commission of Inquiry have all determined that a genocide is being committed in Gaza. The UN Commission of Inquiry also recently found that Israel has carried out a genocide through deliberately targeting children. In January 2024, the ICJ found that there was a plausible risk of genocide, while ICC arrest warrants are out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on the charges of war crimes enacted in Gaza.
The government cannot continue wringing its hands and shrugging its shoulders over this. The genocide convention – to which the UK is a signatory – determines that all third parties must act to prevent a genocide from unfolding where a plausible risk has been found, not wait until the court determines whether a genocide was committed. There is a moral and legal duty to take the necessary action to put an end to the suffering of Palestinians and ensure justice and accountability.
By continuing the sale of weapons, by refusing to put relevant sanctions on Israel, the way that it did on Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine, and by dragging its feet over a settlement trade ban, the UK has failed in its obligations. The very least it can now do is rectify these moral and legal failures.
As most recent polling by Caabu shows, there is a huge chasm between the government position and public opinion on this issue. By failing to act on this, the government is not just failing Palestinians and denying them justice and accountability under international law, but it is also failing the British electorate, who increasingly expect to see the UK take action to hold Israel to account. The polling shows even higher figures among Labour voters, with 62% supporting a settlement trade ban. Starmer undoubtedly lost many supporters when he said that Israel has the “right to cut off” electricity and water from Gaza and refused to call for a ceasefire in 2023. His inability to win back those voters, losing Labour strongholds to pro-Gaza independents and the Green Party in 2024, losing a by-election to the Green Party in Gorton and Denton in February 2026 and performing badly in the Local Elections in May 2026, shows that any new leader must be in touch with the overwhelming sentiment of their party.
The UK must change path and show that it will listen to the calls of the public it represents and is willing to stand up for international law. Andy Burnham’s initial comments are an encouraging start, but it is time to implement meaningful action.
- Malaka El-Gammal is the Campaigns Officer for the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU).
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