THE images of hunger coming out of Gaza are horrendous.
No one could fail to be appalled by the suffering of Palestinians being beamed across the world.
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The conflict was triggered by the massacre, rape and hostage-taking of Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.
But Israel’s response to eliminate the threat of Hamas is taking a terrible toll on ordinary Palestinians.
Some of the most gruesome pictures of malnourished children seem to be manipulated by the Hamas propaganda department, but nearly everyone involved agrees the food shortage in Gaza is real and acute.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is clearly personally deeply moved by the unfolding tragedy and is also being pressured by many of his own Labour MPs to follow the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron, who wants France and others formally to recognise Gaza and the West Bank as the nation state of Palestine at a UN conference on the issue in September.
Yesterday, Sir Keir appeared to give in to that pressure. After an emergency cabinet meeting, the Government announced that the UK will recognise Palestine as a state — unless Israel meets a list of conditions before the conference.
Embolden the extremists
You might be forgiven for thinking the Government’s announcement could give a desperate situation a helpful push at a critical time.
After all, the UK and the rest of the international community have long believed that the only way to secure peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians is to create an independent state of Palestine alongside Israel.
As a former chair of Labour Friends of Israel, I have long campaigned for a “two-state solution” to replace the perpetually unstable, messy situation that has developed since the establishment of Israel in 1948.
But right now? Definitely not.
Sir Keir must urgently think again, or he will squander what little influence Britain has on this dire situation.
Those who have pushed for the UK to make the gesture of giving Palestine full democratic recognition now tend to believe Israel is squarely to blame for the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
They ignore the reality that Hamas systematically diverts aid from its own people.
Many are taken in by the grotesque lie that Israel itself wants a genocide of Palestinians.
When in fact the country is threatened by genocidal terrorists committed to wiping Israel off the map.
Jews who survived Hitler’s attempt to wipe them out promised themselves they would never again rely on the rest of the world to keep them safe.
So they think the UK should do whatever it can to stop Israel in its tracks.
But even if you believe the anti-Israel falsehoods from Hamas, recognising Palestinian statehood now would do nothing whatsoever to influence Israel’s approach.
Jews who survived Hitler’s attempt to wipe them out promised themselves they would never again rely on the rest of the world to keep them safe.
If their allies abandon them like this, they will just knuckle down and shut us out of the conversation.
Israelis would understandably view premature recognition of Palestine — before the hostages are returned home, before critical and intensely difficult security questions have been agreed — as contemptible posturing from countries whose days of empire are over.
Countries whose existence is not on the line, unlike Israel under constant rocket fire from Iran and its terrorist proxies.
Israelis would be deeply hurt by the sense their friends are moving against them while Hamas still holds living hostages or is withholding their remains.
But if it goes ahead, this gesture of official recognition while conflict is raging would be worse than futile. It would be actively harmful — including potentially increasing the risk of future Islamist terror attacks.
One British cabinet minister yesterday suggested the Palestinian people should be “rewarded” by Britain recognising their state.
In fact, the people who would trumpet this as a reward would be Hamas terrorists, and their Iranian puppet masters who are bringing terror to British streets.
And it would embolden the extremists who have tarnished Gaza marches on an almost weekly basis with chants calling for the annihilation of Israel.
Some Labour MPs might be worried they will lose support from Muslim voters and left-wingers unless the Government sounds more pro-Palestine.
Pressurise real culprits
But the party should worry more that Nigel Farage and his new wave of Reform councillors will have a field day if it looks like Labour is caving in to the angry intolerance disrupting British cities.
And if Labour MPs look like they are obsessed with a foreign conflict when their constituents have so many pressing problems at home.
Sir Keir should focus on putting pressure on the real culprits — Hamas terrorists — instead of blaming Israel and sidelining Britain.
If the PM wants to shape the debate on how to find a credible roadmap to an independent Palestine alongside a secure Israel — great.
But the goal of two states cannot be imposed by Britain. It will only be achieved through a negotiation between two sides — Israelis and Palestinians.
And right now, the terrorists ruling Gaza are still holding Israeli hostages, and the Gazans under their control are going without food.
So Sir Keir should focus on putting pressure on the real culprits — Hamas terrorists — instead of blaming Israel and sidelining Britain.
- John Woodcock is an ex-Labour MP and independent adviser to the Government on political violence and disruption.
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