The SNP has called on the UK Labour Government to follow France in recognising the state of Palestine as President Macron made clear France would officially recognise a Palestinian state within months.
It is reported that France could make the move as soon as the UN conference in June after Macron told the French media:
“We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months.
“Our aim is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June, where we could finalise this movement of mutual recognition by several parties.”
“I will do it because I believe that at some point it will be right and because I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, which must also allow all those who defend Palestine to recognise Israel in turn, which many of them do not do.”
It follows President Trump’s proposals that the US could take control of Gaza and relocate its population, a move which has been described as in violation of international law.
Recent weeks have seen Israel resume its intense bombardment of Gaza – breaching a fragile ceasefire which was put in place in January.
On Tuesday this week at least 29 Palestinians including children were reportedly killed after an Israeli air strike hit a residential building in the east of Gaza City.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) was also forced to change its version of events over the killing of fifteen medics who were found buried in a shallow grave.
The IDF initially claimed they had opened fire on vehicles that had moving “suspiciously” in the dark without lights or markings.
However video footage later recovered from the scene showed that the vehicles were ambulances and a fire vehicle clearly marked with flashing red lights.
The Palestine Red Crescent has described the shootings as a “fully fledged war crime”.
Now the SNP’s Middle East spokesperson, Brendan O’Hara has said the Labour UK Government must follow France and commit to backing such proposals at the nearest available date.
Mr O’Hara said the UK must come together with our European allies to “protect and guarantee the rights of Palestinian people to their own land” while adding that the Labour Party “cannot claim to support a two-state solution if it’s not prepared to recognise both states.”
The House of Commons has previously voted in favour of international recognition in 2014, but the vote was not binding on the UK government.
In recognising a Palestinian state, the UK would join a total of 144 members of the United Nations, including Ireland, Spain and Norway.
Commenting, Mr O’Hara said:
“Donald Trump’s dangerous proposals to displace the Palestinian people make it more critical than ever that the UK stops dragging its heels, comes together with our European allies and finally recognises a Palestinian state.
“President Macron is showing bold leadership in moving as quickly as possible to recognise Palestine and the people of Gaza cannot afford for the UK to stall on this again.
“It’s imperative that Sir Keir Starmer joins France and sends the clearest possible signal that we are prepared to protect and guarantee the right of the Palestinian people to their own homeland – and that all diplomatic levers will be used to prevent a plan that effectively proposes ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
“A Palestinian state is the inalienable right of the people of Palestine, not a privilege that can be trampled upon by others and anyone claiming to support a two-state solution must back immediate recognition, otherwise their words will ring hollow.
“Westminster must not repeat the mistakes it has made throughout this conflict – where political leaders have failed to speak out and even appeared to condone the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
“The UK Labour government cannot claim to support a two-state solution if it’s not prepared to recognise both states and finally recognising the state of Palestine would be a powerful and meaningful step in the right direction.”
