Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, has accused the UK government of failing the Palestinian people and not making it economically impossible for Israel to continue acting with impunity in the West Bank and Gaza. She criticised Israel's 'staggering' sense of impunity and rebuked Donald Trump for declaring a ceasefire in Gaza and then walking away, leaving Gazans to live in rubble.
Speaking at an event in Westminster on Monday night, Thornberry said the UK's recognition of Palestine as a state eight months ago should have been the first step of many, but nothing further had been done to help bring about a two-state solution. She questioned where the second or tenth steps were, and highlighted that over 72,000 Palestinians have been killed, with more than 700 killed during the so-called ceasefire proclaimed by Trump.
Thornberry pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced plans to take over 70% of Gaza. She said Britain had fallen short on its record on Palestine and failed the Palestinian people, despite being proud of its role in international law. She noted that 682 days had passed since the International Court of Justice published its advisory opinion on the occupation, but the UK had still not published its formal response.
Thornberry called for banning imports from illegal settlements, imposing sanctions on those involved, stopping British companies from involvement, and taking action against insurance networks. She urged the UK to revive the group of states that backed recognition of Palestine in 2025, and to make it economically painful for Israel to continue settlement expansion, describing the situation in the West Bank as untenable.
She concluded that the tragedy of Gaza was a lesson of doing too little, too late, and that the UK must not let the West Bank suffer the same fate. She dismissed the current situation in Gaza as a genuine ceasefire, accusing Trump of declaring a victory and then walking away while Gazans remain in rubble with no progress.
