A cross-party group of local councillors have today written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging that he recognise the state of Palestine immediately – in view of the horrific and ever worsening conditions being endured by the people of Gaza – instead of delaying until September.
They also ask that he makes the promised recognition unconditional, not dependent on any action that Israel may or may not take in the meantime.
As things stand, the government will recognise Palestine next month, but only if Israel fails to end the genocide, stop annexations in the West Bank and allow aid into Gaza.
The letter is signed by 34 of the 51 SDC councillors. It also calls for a full arms embargo and widespread sanctions on Israel, a ban on the import of settlement goods and money towards collecting evidence for prosecution of war crimes.
Cllr Kate Kay (Green) said: “The Green Group and fellow elected politicians in this district have come together to register their horror and despair at the intolerable treatment of the Palestinian people. It has to stop and we urge the UK government to act decisively, and now, to do our part in stopping it.”
Cllr Katy Hofmann (Labour) added: “All members of the Stroud District Council Labour Group share the same desire to see an urgent end to the atrocities in Palestine. We demand an immediate ceasefire, lasting peace and supply of aid, with full recognition of the state of Palestine as soon as is possible.”
Cllr Linda Cohen (Liberal Democrat) said: “There is no justification for these atrocities. We are already too late in taking action, not another minute must be lost. The lives of Palestinian children are as valuable as our own. The Government must take the lead and act today.”
The picture shows the Ecotricity building in Stroud, outside which local Greens recently gathered in solidarity with owner Dale Vince’s decision to display the Palestinian flag.
The full text of the letter to Keir Starmer can be read below.
Dear Prime Minister
Unconditional recognition of a Palestinian State
As elected councillors in Stroud district, we individually and personally welcome the Government’s recent commitment to recognise Palestinian statehood, but believe this should take place immediately and unconditionally, particularly given Britain’s historically significant role as the former mandatory power in Palestine.
We are extremely concerned that the UK’s position suggests that Palestinian statehood can be used as a bargaining chip, only to be awarded if the Israeli government fails to end the genocide in Gaza and agrees to a range of other conditions, such as allowing the supply of aid and ending annexations in the West Bank.
Although these conditions would be essential steps towards a ceasefire, we believe they must not be an alternative to recognising Palestinian statehood.
Immediate recognition would send a message that our country supports the rights of Palestine and sends a message to its people, that they are not alone and they can maintain hope for a route to lasting peace.
If Israel were to comply with the conditions, this would once again postpone our country’s long-overdue recognition of the state of Palestine, as part of the two-state solution, as the only option to secure peace in the region.
We urge you to make the recognition of the state of Palestine immediate and unconditional, and additionally to commit the UK to action which could further help to bring about the ceasefire. This should include a full arms embargo, widespread sanctions, a ban on the import of settlement goods and funding evidence collection for prosecution of war crimes.
We join with you in recognising the appalling and intolerable situation for the Palestinian people and urge you to commit to this immediate action to demonstrate the UK’s opposition to genocide in Gaza and our collective commitment to see a two-state solution for lasting peace.
Your sincerely,
Cllr Beki Aldam (Green)
Cllr Martin Baxendale (Green)
Cllr James Boyle (Green)
Cllr Catherine Braun (Green)
Cllr Martin Brown (Green)
Cllr John Callihan (Labour)
Cllr Sarah Canning (Green)
Cllr Linda Cohen (Lib Dem)
Cllr Fraser Dahdouh (Labour)
Cllr Jonathan Edmunds (Green)
Cllr Helen Fenton (Green)
Cllr Marisa Godfrey (Green)
Cllr Katy Hofmann (Labour)
Cllr Steve Hyndside (Green)
Cllr Cate James-Hodges (Green)
Cllr Carol Kambites (Green)
Cllr Kate Kay (Green)
Cllr Pete Kennedy (Green)
Cllr Gareth Kitchen (Green)
Cllr Gary Luff (Green)
Cllr Dave Mathews (Labour)
Cllr Cath Moore (Labour)
Cllr Natalie Rothwell-Warn (Green)
Cllr John Parker (Labour)
Cllr Martin Pearcy (Green)
Cllr Steve Robinson (Labour)
Cllr Matt Sargeant (Green)
Cllr Lucas Schoemaker (Green)
Cllr Moya Shannon (Green)
Cllr Holly Simkiss (Lib Dem)
Cllr Gill Thomas (Green)
Cllr Chloe Turner (Green)
Cllr Paul Turner (Independent)
Cllr Tricia Watson (Green)