I warmly welcome the fact that this week, the UK Government, alongside Australian and Canadian Governments have recognised the inalienable right of the Palestinians to self-determination, peace and justice.
I pay tribute to Ambassador Husam Zomlot for his tireless advocacy on behalf of his government and people.
In 2014, I voted for the recognition of the State of Palestine - and have campaigned for it ever since. This week, I am proud that the UK has formally recognised the state of Palestine.
The situation on the ground could not be more grave. Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank are facing a campaign of violence from the Israeli military and settlers, described by the International Criminal Court as war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is an existential moment for Palestine.
Recognition matters. It affirms Palestinians’ equal right to self-determination alongside Israelis. It upholds international law, reflecting the International Court of Justice ruling that the 1967 occupation is unlawful and that settlements are illegal. And it makes clear that Britain, with international partners, is pushing for a just and lasting peace.
It also challenges this Israeli Government’s claim to all of historic Palestine and signals that Britain will not turn a blind eye to aggression and annexation. Recognition is not symbolic - if it were, it would have happened long ago. Instead, it marks a real shift: from silence to parity, from delay to justice. That is why it matters.
But recognition alone is not enough. It must be accompanied by urgent action to stop the killing and starvation.
No one can support the Hamas attacks, or the kidnapping and murder of hostages. It is also important to acknowledge the steps our Labour Government has taken:
• Sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers
• Suspending arms licences and trade talks with Israel
• Restoring UNRWA funding and announcing £101m in new humanitarian support
• Signing a joint donor statement with 27 humanitarian partners on aid to Gaza
• Summoning the Israeli Ambassador
• Calling consistently for a full and permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages
• Dropping the previous government’s objection to the ICC and its arrest warrants
This is a historic week - a long overdue act of justice. But it is only a step on the path to peace. The work cannot, and must not, stop here.