Labour Party members have urged Keir Starmer to acknowledge that Israel is engaged in genocide in Gaza. In a setback for the government, an emergency motion led by Unison and supported by delegates called for a complete halt to arms sales to Israel. The motion urged ministers to accept the conclusions of a UN report that accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration of genocide.
During a passionate address on Monday, the General Secretary of the union, Christina McAnea, implored the party to recognize the situation. She emphasized the devastating events of October 7, 2023, highlighting the significant loss of Palestinian lives and the dire conditions in Gaza. McAnea stressed the urgency of using the term “genocide” without hesitation, noting that experts widely agree on the gravity of the situation.
McAnea emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent further atrocities and alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza. The emergency motion, although not binding, called on the Government to take all reasonable measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, including a suspension of arms trade with Israel. Additionally, it demanded a cessation of trade with illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy echoed the sentiment, calling on the government to intervene to halt the genocide. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry had previously determined that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza on September 16.
The Labour Party, along with its trade unions, has a history of advocating for peace in the Middle East, and the current crisis in Gaza underscores the need for immediate action.