Labour activists will try to pressure Keir Starmer to take further political action against Israel and brand its military attack on Gaza a ‘genocide’ today.
They want the party’s annual conference to back a full arms embargo and further sanctions against high-ranking members of Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government.
Protesters gathered again outside the venue in Liverpool this morning ahead of two votes, the day after more than 60 supporters of terrorist group Palestine Action were arrested.
One motion, moved by the Unison trade union, urges the conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed ‘genocide’.
Sir Keir and his ministers have so far avoided branding the military action this way, saying it is for courts to rule on under UK law.
The second, moved by the local labour branch in Diane Abbott’s Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat in London, demands the UK ‘fully suspend arms trade with Israel that could be used in the conflict’ and target new sanctions at ‘far right ministers’.
It comes a week after Britain formally recognised a state of Palestine, alongside Canada and Australia, sparking a backlash against Sir Keir Starmer by Netanyahu.
Activists want the party conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed ‘genocide’ and back a full arms embargo and further sanctions.
One motion, moved by the Unison trade union, urges the conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed ‘genocide’ in Gaza.
Protesters gathered again outside the venue in Liverpool this morning ahead of two votes, the day after supporters of terrorist group Palestine Action were arrested (pictured).
This morning new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that Israel’s military action in Gaza was ‘a moral obscenity’ as she addressed the conference.
Police arrested 66 people aged between 21 and 83 on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed terrorism organisation during a protest outside the conference yesterday.
Around 100 people gathered near The Wheel Of Liverpool in the city centre holding signs reading: ‘I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,’ protest group Defend Our Juries said.
Merseyside Police said some of the people in attendance displayed material in support of Palestine Action.
Palestine Action was banned as a terror organisation in July after the group claimed responsibility for an action in which two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton the previous month.
