Labour Party members are urging 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 conclusions of a UN report that accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration of committing genocide.
During a passionate address on Monday, Unison’s General Secretary Christina McAnea urged the party to embrace the report’s findings. She emphasized the devastating events and casualties in Gaza, stating that the situation amounted to genocide and urging straightforward acknowledgment without playing with words.
McAnea stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that waiting for formal confirmation from a court would be too late as atrocities were already unfolding. She emphasized the need for intervention to prevent further loss of innocent lives and famine in Gaza, calling for action to halt the ongoing crisis.
The non-binding emergency motion, which was passed through a show of hands, called on the Government to exhaust all available means to prevent genocide in Gaza. Additionally, it demanded a complete suspension of arms trading with Israel and the UK-Israel trade agreement, as well as a prohibition on dealings with illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy echoed the call for government action to prevent genocide. Previously, on September 16, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry declared that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. The party and its trade unions, known for their history of advocating for peace in the Middle East, were urged to act decisively in the current crisis.