Andy Burnham calls for tougher action over Gaza crisis

Andy Burnham has called for Britain to take a stronger stand on the worsening crisis in Gaza and the future of a two-state solution.

He said the UK must back its support for a two-state solution with meaningful action, warning that continued settlement expansion and settler violence are putting the prospect of lasting peace at risk.

Burnham outlined measures including a ban on trade in goods from illegal settlements, recognition that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, and sanctions on individuals and companies supporting or profiting from illegal settlements.

He also called for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, where he said the scale of civilian suffering and destruction has become impossible to ignore.

The prime minister said the humanitarian situation in Gaza remained deeply alarming, with tens of thousands of Palestinians reported dead, including large numbers of children, while millions have been displaced and humanitarian needs remain severe. He described the destruction and suffering as a profound international concern.

Burnham also criticised the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. He warned that the proposed E1 settlement project could divide the West Bank and make the creation of a viable Palestinian state increasingly difficult. International opposition to settlement expansion has intensified, with Britain, France, Canada and other countries taking steps against settlement-linked trade and activity.

At the same time, Burnham condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack and stressed that criticism of the Israeli government must never be directed at the Israeli people or Britain’s Jewish community.

He said the ultimate goal must remain a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security.

The prime minister also sought to draw a clear distinction between criticism of the Israeli government and Britain’s Jewish community. He condemned antisemitism and said British Jews should not be blamed for decisions made by the Israeli government. He pledged that his government would continue working to protect the Jewish community and combat antisemitism.