Miliband says UK has reset approach to Israel and Palestine
Addressing millions of people who had protested Israel's war on Gaza and criticised Labour's previous position, Miliband said: "we hear you, you were right".
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK government had adopted a tougher stance towards Israel and acknowledged the impact of pro-Palestinian campaigning, as he addressed the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Miliband condemned the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks but said they did not justify the suffering inflicted by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Gaza and the West Bank, describing the situation as "a stain on the conscience of the world", says Arab News.
He also described Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank as "ethnic cleansing", cited "evidence of war crimes in Gaza" and said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory was illegal.
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Addressing millions of people who had protested Israel's war on Gaza and criticised Labour's previous position, Miliband said: "we hear you, you were right".
He said the government would not allow efforts to undermine a two-state solution to succeed.
"The only route to peace is two states, a secure Israel and a secure Palestine, with freedom, dignity and self-determination for both peoples," Miliband said.
The speech marked a shift from the position taken by Labour under former leader Keir Starmer, which faced sustained criticism over its support for Israel.
The policy changes began with the suspension of selected arms export licences in 2024. Under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the government has also introduced bans on goods imported from illegal settlements and targeted individuals and companies profiting from settlement activity, while coordinating the restrictions with international partners including France and Canada.
The UK government has also formally concluded that Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign welcomed Miliband's speech and the sanctions as overdue, but said the government continued to face contradictions in its policy.
Deputy Director Peter Leary pointed to Britain's continued involvement in the supply chain for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel and the continued proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
Medical Aid for Palestinians Deputy Director Aseel Baidoun said strong words needed to be accompanied by concrete action. The organisation called for a comprehensive arms embargo, including an end to the F-35 carve-out, as well as support for international legal accountability mechanisms.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot welcomed Miliband's statements and expressed gratitude to the millions of people who had campaigned for justice and Palestinian rights.
