Starmer using issue of Palestinian statehood to cover-up UK’s complicity in genocide

_London - _Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement on Tuesday that the UK will recognise Palestinian statehood - unless Israel takes steps to end the “appalling” situation in Gaza - underscores his government’s dehumanisation of the Palestinian people. 

Mr Starmer has effectively used the issue of Palestinian statehood as a bargaining chip. The Prime Minister’s comments indicate that ultimately, it is not about ensuring the rights of Palestinians to a sovereign state, but about Israel changing tact to present a more palatable public face to the genocide. 

The announcement comes after 250 out of 650 lawmakers in the House of Commons signed a letter urging the government to recognise a Palestinian state. The UK is amongst a minority of countries who have not recognised Palestinian statehood. 

CAGE International’s Head of Public Advocacy, Anas Mustapha, said: 

“Amidst the obliteration of Gaza, the Israeli Knesset recently voted to completely annex the West Bank, throwing off even the facade of upholding the two-state solution. It did so emboldened by the active support it has received from the international community - including the UK - for its ongoing apartheid occupation and genocide.”

“The Prime Minister’s leveraging of the issue of Palestinian statehood is a hollow and belated attempt to assuage the UK’s conscience for its complicity in the murder of 60 000 people in Gaza. On the one hand, the Prime Minister talks about humanitarian aid and the need for a ceasefire, but on the other, his government has banned Palestine Action for trying to stop the UK’s arms supplies to Israel. If Mr Starmer is serious about putting an ‘end to the suffering’, his government could start by halting the supply of arms used by Israel to kill Palestinian children.”

CC image courtesy of No10 on Flickr