Latest news with #BritishPalestinianCommittee
Sky News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
British Palestinians call UK plan to recognise Palestinian state 'absurd and performative'
British Palestinians have called Sir Keir Starmer's decision to recognise Palestine as a state if Israel does not abide by conditions "absurd and performative" - and will not allay concerns about people in Gaza. After recalling his cabinet ministers from parliamentary recess on Tuesday, the prime minister said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state by September if Israel agrees to end the "appalling situation in Gaza". The British Palestinian Committee (BPC), which represents the experiences of Palestinians in the UK, sent Sir Keir a letter ahead of the meeting urging him to take actions they said could make a real difference to people in Gaza. They had urged him to not recognise Palestine as a state, calling it "symbolic" and said it "will not end the genocide and must not be used to deflect from accountability". After Sir Keir announced his plan to recognise Palestine, Dr Sarah Husseini, BPC director, told Sky News the plan is "absurd while Israel continues to exterminate and starve women, men and children". She added: "What is needed is urgent accountability for the genocide in Gaza and an end to UK military support to the state committing these crimes. "This performative announcement does little to allay the concerns of Palestinians in this country. It will not relieve the government of its legal duties, and it will not silence the calls from the British public to end British complicity in the atrocities being livestreamed to their phones." 2:39 The war has now been going on for 21 months after it was sparked by Hamas militants killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages on 7 October 2023. The militant group still holds 50 hostages, of whom only 20 are believed to be alive. Sir Keir had been under pressure from his own MPs and other UK political parties, notably since France last week said it will recognise Palestine as a state, but had resisted - saying recognition needs to be part of a wider peace plan. He has also refused to say whether "genocide" is taking place in Gaza - a claim Israel has vehemently denied. Israel paused fighting in three areas for another 10 hours today to help aid distribution, the third day it has done so amid mounting international condemnation of the scenes of hunger unfolding in Gaza. David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, said: "There is no intent, (which is) key for the charge of genocide... it simply doesn't make sense for a country to send in 1.9 million tonnes of aid, most of that being food, if there is an intent of genocide." Israel also rejected Sir Keir's plan and accused him of pandering to his MPs and the French. The Israeli foreign ministry said: "The shift in the British government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages." In the BPC's letter, it had said the government has "not only a political and moral obligation, but a legal obligation" to take three steps. They are: • Preventing and punishing Israel's "genocide" in Gaza and to end "all complicity in it" • Apply "immediate and comprehensive sanctions on Israel" • Safeguard the rights to freedom of expression and assembly in the UK More specifically, the group called on Sir Keir to end "all forms of military collaboration, urgently review all public contracts to ensure they are not aiding unlawful occupation or genocidal acts, and support universal jurisdiction mandates". 22:05 The group said these steps would help towards ending the starvation crisis in Gaza, which it said had been made possible "due to the impunity granted to" Israel and "compounded by the active military, economic and diplomatic support from states such as the UK". They also accused the UK government of introducing "draconian legislation to limit the rights" of British citizens campaigning to end the atrocities "and British complicity in those atrocities" - in reference to Palestine Action being designated as a terrorist organisation.
Sky News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
British Palestinians call UK plan to recognise Palestinian state 'ubsurd and performative'
British Palestinians have called Sir Keir Starmer's decision to recognise Palestine as a state if Israel does not abide by conditions "absurd and performative" - and will not allay concerns about people in Gaza. After recalling his cabinet ministers from parliamentary recess on Tuesday, the prime minister said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state by September if Israel agrees to end the "appalling situation in Gaza". The British Palestinian Committee (BPC), which represents the experiences of Palestinians in the UK, sent Sir Keir a letter ahead of the meeting urging him to take actions they said could make a real difference to people in Gaza. They had urged him to not recognise Palestine as a state, calling it "symbolic" and said it "will not end the genocide and must not be used to deflect from accountability". After Sir Keir announced his plan to recognise Palestine, Dr Sarah Husseini, BPC director, told Sky News the plan is "absurd while Israel continues to exterminate and starve women, men and children". She added: "What is needed is urgent accountability for the genocide in Gaza and an end to UK military support to the state committing these crimes. "This performative announcement does little to allay the concerns of Palestinians in this country. It will not relieve the government of its legal duties, and it will not silence the calls from the British public to end British complicity in the atrocities being livestreamed to their phones." 2:39 The war has now been going on for 21 months after it was sparked by Hamas militants killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages on 7 October 2023. The militant group still holds 50 hostages, of whom only 20 are believed to be alive. Sir Keir had been under pressure from his own MPs and other UK political parties, notably since France last week said it will recognise Palestine as a state, but had resisted - saying recognition needs to be part of a wider peace plan. He has also refused to say whether "genocide" is taking place in Gaza - a claim Israel has vehemently denied. Israel paused fighting in three areas for another 10 hours today to help aid distribution, the third day it has done so amid mounting international condemnation of the scenes of hunger unfolding in Gaza. David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, said: "There is no intent, (which is) key for the charge of genocide... it simply doesn't make sense for a country to send in 1.9 million tonnes of aid, most of that being food, if there is an intent of genocide." Israel also rejected Sir Keir's plan and accused him of pandering to his MPs and the French. The Israeli foreign ministry said: "The shift in the British government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages." In the BPC's letter, it had said the government has "not only a political and moral obligation, but a legal obligation" to take three steps. They are: • Preventing and punishing Israel's "genocide" in Gaza and to end "all complicity in it" • Apply "immediate and comprehensive sanctions on Israel" • Safeguard the rights to freedom of expression and assembly in the UK More specifically, the group called on Sir Keir to end "all forms of military collaboration, urgently review all public contracts to ensure they are not aiding unlawful occupation or genocidal acts, and support universal jurisdiction mandates". 22:05 The group said these steps would help towards ending the starvation crisis in Gaza, which it said had been made possible "due to the impunity granted to" Israel and "compounded by the active military, economic and diplomatic support from states such as the UK". They also accused the UK government of introducing "draconian legislation to limit the rights" of British citizens campaigning to end the atrocities "and British complicity in those atrocities" - in reference to Palestine Action being designated as a terrorist organisation.
Sky News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
PM urged to take three key steps ahead of emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza
British Palestinians have called on Sir Keir Starmer to take "immediate, concrete" steps on Gaza instead of "focusing on a symbolic gesture" of recognising it as a state ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting. The prime minister has recalled his cabinet ministers from parliamentary recess for a meeting at 2pm, when they will discuss what the UK's next steps should be, after Sir Keir held meetings with Donald Trump yesterday. Ahead of the cabinet meeting, the British Palestinian Committee (BPC), which represents the experiences of Palestinians in the UK, has sent Sir Keir a letter urging him to take actions they say could make a real difference to people in Gaza. The war has now been going on for 21 months after it was sparked by Hamas militants killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages on 7 October 2023. The militant group still holds 50 hostages, of whom only 20 are believed to be alive. The BPC said recognising Palestine as a state is now "symbolic" as it "will not end the genocide and must not be used to deflect from accountability". Sir Keir has been under pressure from his own MPs and other UK political parties, notably since France said it will recognise Palestine as a state, but has so far resisted - saying recognition needs to be part of a wider peace plan. He has so far refused to say whether "genocide" is taking place in Gaza - a claim Israel has vehemently denied. Israel has paused fighting in three areas for another 10 hours today to help aid distribution, the third day it has done so amid mounting international condemnation of the scenes of hunger unfolding in Gaza. David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, said: "There is no intent, (which is) key for the charge of genocide... it simply doesn't make sense for a country to send in 1.9 million tonnes of aid, most of that being food, if there is an intent of genocide." 2:39 The BPC, an independent group, said the government has "not only a political and moral obligation, but a legal obligation" to take three steps. They are: • Preventing and punishing Israel's "genocide" in Gaza and to end "all complicity in it" • Apply "immediate and comprehensive sanctions on Israel" • Safeguard the rights to freedom of expression and assembly in the UK More specifically, the group has called on Sir Keir to end "all forms of military collaboration, urgently review all public contracts to ensure they are not aiding unlawful occupation or genocidal acts, and support universal jurisdiction mandates". The group said these steps would help towards ending the starvation crisis in Gaza, which it said had been made possible "due to the impunity granted to" Israel and "compounded by the active military, economic and diplomatic support from states such as the UK". The group also accused the UK government of introducing "draconian legislation to limit the rights" of British citizens campaigning to end the atrocities "and British complicity in those atrocities" - in reference to Palestine Action being designated as a terrorist organisation. 'Immediate steps' Britain can take Dr Sara Husseini, director of the BPC, said: "We wrote to the prime minister to remind the UK cabinet of their legal obligations towards the Palestinian people." She said there are a "number of immediate steps" the British government "can and should be taking", as outlined in the letter. Dr Husseini said 147 countries have already recognised Palestine as a state, and instead of "focusing on a symbolic gesture" it is essential the UK severs diplomatic ties with Israel, institutes a full arms embargo, applies comprehensive sanctions and cuts trade. "Anything short of this amounts to complicity," she added. 22:05 Ahead of the cabinet meeting, senior minister Peter Kyle told Sky News the PM had decided to call an emergency meeting "to discuss all of the actions that Britain can and should be taking at a time like this". He said recognising Palestine as a state is a manifesto commitment but the "real priority" right now is to try to get aid into Gaza.
The National
28-05-2025
- Business
- The National
British Palestinians call out David Lammy over UK-Israel trade visit
On Monday, Lord Ian Austin – the UK Government's trade envoy to Israel – was pictured in Haifa in northern Israel, where he said the Government would continue to encourage "British businesses to export to Israel and Israeli businesses to invest in the UK". It comes despite the UK Government suspending negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade deal last week, as Lammy described Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as "extremists". READ MORE: BBC admits error after presenting Reform UK spokesperson as member of public The National understands that Austin is set to be in Israel until Friday to "maintain" the UK Government's relationship with Israeli businesses. The visit was condemned by Independent MP and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, former first minister Humza Yousaf, and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians. Meanwhile, the British Palestinian Committee, an independent organisation of British Palestinians advocating for Palestinian rights, has now written to the Foreign Secretary arguing that the visit "appears to directly contradict" the UK Government's previous condemnation of Israel. Dr Sara Husseini, director of the British Palestinian Committee, said that the "limited steps" against Israel by the UK Government "are already being undermined". Penning the letter to Lammy on Tuesday, Husseini said the UK Government was "isolat[ing] itself on the international stage" in its continued support of Israel. The full letter to the Foreign Secretary said: "One week ago, you announced the suspension of free trade agreement negotiations with Israel in light of its ongoing military assault on Gaza. "Yesterday morning, the UK Trade Envoy to Israel, Lord Ian Austin, publicly stated on X that he was in Israel to 'promote trade with the UK' meeting with Israeli businesses and officials. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv further amplified this message by publishing a photo of Lord Austin at the Haifa Port. "This visit appears to directly contradict your Government's recent announcement and suggests that business continues as usual, despite almost 600 days of Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza. Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Image: PA) "The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has now reached at least 54,000 with entire families incinerated in their homes as Israel's daily bombardments continue. "Women, men and children remain trapped under rubble or in the streets, unreachable by emergency crews. During this past weekend, harrowing footage has circulated of children burned alive during an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced people, and a surgeon at work receiving the charred bodies of her nine children. "Israel continues to pursue its openly stated policy of forced displacement, now centred in Rafah, while systematically blocking supplies to force the starvation of the entire population of Gaza. The extent of this mass ethnic cleansing is on a scale not experienced by the Palestinian people since their original expulsion from their homes during the Nakba of 1947-48. "Last week's measures announced by your government are wholly inadequate in the face of this horrific reality. That even the limited measures announced last week are already being undermined is deeply troubling and entirely unacceptable." READ MORE: By-election hustings chaos as Tory candidate walks out over Labour no-show Husseini went on: "Rather than fulfilling its legal and moral duties to ensure the protection of an occupied people – Britain continues to provide diplomatic, economic, and military support to the occupying power. "As other states, international bodies, and civil society institutions take steps to halt Israeli atrocities, the UK Government continues to participate in these crimes and further isolate itself on the international stage." The British Palestinian Committee called on Lammy to: Immediately clarify the nature and mandate of Austin's visit to Israel and "take appropriate steps to ensure that the government is not reneging on its own policy". Drop the 2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations, and "impose comprehensive economic and diplomatic sanctions in order to apply pressure on Israel to abide by its international obligations". Cease "all forms of military cooperation with Israel and impose a full two-way arms embargo, in line with the UK's obligations under international law, including the duty to prevent, punish, and ensure non-complicity in genocide". The UK Government has previously insisted that the visit was unrelated to the recently suspended new free trade deal and that Austin was not involved in trade negotiations. The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.
Al Jazeera
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
UK military support to Israel ‘could be breach of international law'
The United Kingdom's military collaboration with Israel during its assault on Gaza, as well as its support through arms provisions, logistical aid, and direct military interventions in Yemen to support Israel's objectives, could constitute a breach of international law, a new report reveals. The report, released on Tuesday by the British Palestinian Committee (BPC), says while the UK government has not been directly perpetrating violence in Gaza, it has 'played an influential role' through the validation of arms licences and wider, deeper military collaboration with Israel. UK-made F-35 parts, sent directly to Israel and other partner countries for assembly, have played a significant role in maintaining the Israeli jets for combat by contributing to the global pool of spare parts, which Israel can access. In taking such actions, the UK is not 'simply failing to meet its third-party responsibilities to uphold international law', it is actively complicit in Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people, the report said. Additionally, while the British military has supplied Israel with these critical components, it has also developed a deeper military collaboration with Israel. 'This two-way partnership supports Israeli companies in the development of technology that is used to kill Palestinians and deepens collaboration between the British and Israeli militaries,' the report said, adding that the British military bases in Cyprus have served as a 'foundational asset' for Israel's genocide in Gaza. Alongside its direct military intervention in Yemen, the UK has protected Israel's military infrastructure during its escalation against Iran, the report said, focusing on the UK's military joining efforts to shield Israel's military infrastructure from an anticipated Iranian response in April 2024. This came after Israel bombed an Iranian consulate building in Syria's capital Damascus, killing at least 13 people, including two Syrian civilians. 'UK ministers and officials know that the UK has obligations under international law,' Sara Husseini, BPC director, told Al Jazeera. 'They have recognised that Israel's illegal occupation is ongoing and they have been made aware by the world's highest court that Israel's actions in Gaza plausibly amount to genocide. 'We are, therefore, calling on the government to immediately impose a two-way arms embargo, end all forms of military collaboration, and uphold the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. If not, the British government should face appropriate legal consequences.' UK's official policy, outlined in its Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, says it will not grant an arms export licence 'if it determines there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law', said the group. In April 2024, six months into the war on Gaza, then-Foreign Minister David Cameron said the UK would not halt arms sales to Israel by British companies. He defended his decision a month later by claiming that they represent 'less than 1 percent' of Israel's arms imports. In September 2024, the UK suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel, citing a 'clear risk' that they could be used in serious breaches of international humanitarian law. Since then, the British government has issued 34 arms export licences to Israel, including three open licences which allow the export of an unlimited number and value of goods. In the 19-page report, the BPC concluded that the UK is legally obligated to take measures to prevent genocide and to prosecute individuals or entities responsible for committing such acts, both within its own jurisdiction and, where feasible, internationally. The group also stressed that the obligation of states to prevent genocide is a proactive rather than a passive action and entails the concept of 'due diligence', necessitating an assessment based on factual evidence. In 2022, the UK supplied 42 million pounds ($53m) worth of arms to Israel, according to media reports.
