Labour Party members have urged Keir Starmer to acknowledge that Israel is engaging in genocide in Gaza. In a blow to the government, an emergency motion led by Unison calling for a complete halt to arms sales to Israel received support. The motion urged ministers to recognize the UN report’s conclusion that Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration was perpetrating genocide.
During a passionate appeal on Monday, Unison’s General Secretary Christina McAnea implored the party to embrace the report’s findings. She emphasized the devastating events of October 7, 2023, highlighting the significant loss of Palestinian lives and the dire situation in Gaza. McAnea insisted that the term “genocide” should not be avoided and urged immediate action to prevent further atrocities.
She emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that waiting for legal confirmation would be too late as the atrocities were ongoing. McAnea called for intervention to halt the violence and prevent famine, stressing the need for tangible change in Gaza.
The emergency motion, while not legally binding, called on the Government to utilize all available means to prevent genocide in Gaza and cease arms trading with Israel. Additionally, it demanded an end to trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank. Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy echoed the call for government action to prevent genocide.
On September 16, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry officially declared that Israel had committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.