Palestinian Forum in Britain welcomes Andy Burnham’s remarks on Gaza and Palestine

The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) has today issued a statement welcoming “the important and responsible remarks made by Andy Burnham regarding Gaza and Palestine.” The statement said Burnham’s remarks reflect a growing recognition within British public life that the United Kingdom’s approach to the ongoing crisis has fallen short of its moral responsibilities and its obligations under international law.

“As Mr Burnham prepares to assume the leadership of the Government in the coming days, these comments should mark not the end of a political reassessment, but the beginning of a meaningful shift in British policy towards Palestine, one grounded in international law, accountability, and the universal principles of human rights and justice.”

Adnan Hmidan, Chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, said:

“I welcome Andy Burnham’s recognition that far stronger action is needed to confront the grave violations committed against the Palestinian people, including greater pressure on the Israeli government, further sanctions on those responsible, and a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements. These are important steps, but the scale of devastation, killing, starvation and forced displacement inflicted upon Gaza demands far more than acknowledgement. It requires courageous political action. As an increasing number of legal experts and international human rights organisations have concluded, we hope more British political leaders will recognise that the atrocities committed in Gaza constitute genocide under international law, and will support the measures necessary to ensure accountability, end impunity, and uphold international law without exception or double standards. The Palestinian people need not more expressions of concern, but decisive action to bring this historic injustice to an end.”

The PFB said that expressions of concern must now be matched by concrete policy measures that ensure the United Kingdom’s actions are fully aligned with its international obligations and its longstanding commitment to a rules-based international order.

This includes:

* Ensuring that British diplomatic, military, economic and regulatory policies are fully consistent with international law;

* Ending all military exports and transfers to Israel that risk contributing to violations of international humanitarian law;

* Imposing economic sanctions, including banning the sale of all goods originating in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and outlawing all commercial and trade activity that supports or sustains the Israeli occupation and its apartheid regime;

* Strengthening oversight of private sector involvement in activities linked to the occupation and settlement enterprise;

* Supporting the independence and work of international accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice;

* Protecting freedom of expression, peaceful protest and legitimate advocacy relating to Palestinian rights and international law;

* Supporting international efforts aimed at ending the occupation and advancing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

The language emerging from parts of British politics is beginning to change. That change is welcome. However, the true test of leadership lies not in recognising past mistakes, but in demonstrating the political courage necessary to act upon that recognition.

The next British Government will be judged not only by what it says about international law, but by its willingness to apply those principles consistently and without exception.

The PFB said it looks forward to engaging constructively with the incoming Government to ensure that the United Kingdom plays a meaningful role in advancing justice, accountability and a lasting peace based on freedom, equality and self-determination for the Palestinian people.