Pro-Palestine activists are increasingly optimistic about a potential shift in the Labour Party's stance on the Middle East crisis, which could lead to a more robust government position against Israel. This optimism stems from several factors, including the Green Party's strong performance in local elections, the impending departure of Keir Starmer as prime minister, and recent polling indicating widespread support among Labour members for a complete ban on arms exports to Israel.
Factors Driving the Mood Swing
Campaigners have faced setbacks, including losses in high court cases, the classification of Palestine Action as a terrorist group, and the lack of progress under Donald Trump's peace initiative. However, the current outlook marks a significant change in sentiment. Both leading candidates to replace Starmer, Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, have previously urged stronger support for Palestine. While neither has explicitly labeled Israel's actions as genocide, Streeting has accused Israel of war crimes and shared a dossier from British doctors in Gaza with the cabinet, a move that reportedly drew criticism from Starmer.
Despite their past statements, neither Streeting nor Burnham has outlined specific policy changes for Gaza. In July 2025, Streeting wrote that Israel's rogue state behavior justified sanctions against the state itself, not just individual ministers.
Government Actions and Criticisms
The most significant government actions to date include a partial suspension of arms exports to Israel in September 2024 and the recognition of Palestine as a state a year later. However, critics argue these steps are insufficient. Brian Brivati, executive director of the British Palestine Project, believes a major shift is imminent. He points to the departure of Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's gatekeeper, and the electoral impact of the Greens' local election performance. A recent poll by Medical Aid for Palestinians found that 87% of Labour members support a ban on trade with illegal settlements, and 78% back a total arms embargo.
Brivati also highlights the ongoing crisis in Gaza, with over 900 deaths since the ceasefire, and the failure of the Board of Peace to achieve any progress. He expects a leadership election to force a significant change in Labour's approach, regardless of who succeeds Starmer.
Thornberry’s Critique
Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, recently stated that Labour has failed the Palestinians. She noted that after recognizing Palestine, the government lost momentum, and the Trump peace plan has stalled. Thornberry questioned why the government has not used its convening power to resolve the deadlock over Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.
At a British Palestine Project conference, Thornberry faced heckling for describing herself as a Zionist but emphasized the need for Labour to do more. Another MP admitted that the party has not gotten the politics right.
Potential Actions and Challenges
Activists suggest several practical steps for a new Labour leader: a full trade ban or a ban on goods from illegal settlements, publication of a government response to the International Court of Justice's 2024 ruling on the occupation, and measures to deter British and European firms from bidding on tenders for the E1 settlement area. A letter from Labour select committee chairs included some of these ideas, but the government instead imposed sanctions on more settler groups, citing practical difficulties in banning illegal settlement trade. Ministers also backed a new international peace fund for grassroots initiatives.
Vincent Fean, a former consul general in Jerusalem, argued that Europe needs to regain diplomatic control over the Palestinian issue from the US, and Britain should play a larger role. Activists feel Starmer has been reluctant to acknowledge that Gaza has become a defining issue for a generation. The Greens have called for the release of Marwan Barghouti, an imprisoned Palestinian leader. Chris Doyle of the Council for Arab-British Understanding criticized the government's reliance on vacuous press releases expressing concern.
Broader Implications
Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator, urged Labour to focus on impacting what Israel can and cannot do. He argued that sanctioning individual leaders like Netanyahu and Smotrich is ineffective, as they wear such measures as a badge of pride. Instead, signals to Israel should come through areas like Eurovision, football, and basketball. Levy warned of tectonic shifts, including the potential acceleration of a shift away from the US due to the Israeli-US war on Iran. He emphasized that apartheid was undermined by offering an alternative, and the same principle applies to ethno-supremacy in Israel.
