Statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the recognition of a Palestinian State

There is not one of us who has not been appalled, distressed and heartbroken by every scene and photograph we have laid eyes on since October 7th 2023.

Ever since I had the honour and responsibility of serving as a Member of Parliament, I have received an extraordinary volume of correspondence from across the towns, villages and city that make up the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has written to me - often with deep compassion, dignity and sensitivity - to share their views, their anguish, and their hopes for peace. I have heard your collective voices and made sure they have been heard in Government.

Our immediate priority has always been, and continues to be, to end the suffering.

I welcome the position set out by the Prime Minister on behalf of the UK Government this afternoon. Namely, that the UK is determined to protect the viability of the two-state solution and will recognise the state of Palestine in September before the UN General Assembly; unless the Israeli government takes the substantive steps required to end the appalling situation in Gaza.

That must include a genuine commitment to a long term sustainable peace, through allowing the UN to restart the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and end starvation and ease the desperation on the ground, agreeing to a ceasefire, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.

This reflects the seriousness of this moment and the scale of our responsibilities.

But ultimately, we must also look beyond this crisis. I and the Labour Party have always supported a two-state solution: a safe and secure Israel alongside a sovereign, independent Palestine. Both peoples must be in control of their own respective destinies, with dignity and security guaranteed. They should never be considered mutually exclusive.

Palestinian statehood should not be a favour to be granted; it must be an inalienable right. That is why I support the Government’s commitment to recognising a Palestinian state as a meaningful step towards peace - not instead of a peace process, but as a contribution to restarting one.

Yet peace cannot be sustained without a plan for the day after. I welcome the UK Government’s commitment to working with allies from across the world on a long-term political framework.

That framework must address governance and security in Gaza and create the conditions for a negotiated two-state solution. This must include the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the removal of Hamas leadership from Gaza, and meaningful reform of the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas is a terrorist organisation responsible for evil and indefensible attacks, rightly condemned around the world. The pain and suffering that has followed - for Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza - is a profound human tragedy with no place in the 21st century. The UK’s demands on Hamas are clear and unwavering: they must release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, disarm, and accept that they will have no role in Gaza’s future. They must not (and will not) be rewarded.

And, as we speak, in Gaza the United Nations has found mounting evidence of famine and widespread starvation. This must come to an end, and Israel must allow more humanitarian aid into the region. The UN Secretary General has rightly referred to the current situation as a “test of our shared humanity”. Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions, and the facts are undeniable.

I strongly support the UK’s immediate humanitarian steps, including joint aid air drops with Jordan and bringing injured Palestinian children to British hospitals. These are practical, compassionate actions which embody who we are as a country.

None of this will be easy. But if we are to break the cycle of violence, restore hope, and prevent further suffering, then we must remain steadfast in our belief in peace - and in the right of both Palestinians and Israelis to live in freedom, security and dignity.

That has always been my position. It remains my deepest conviction today.