Dozens of MPs call for UK government to recognise Palestine as state
A mix of centrist and left-wing MPs, including some committee chairs, wrote to the foreign secretary this week to say "by not recognising [Palestine] as a state, we undermine our own policy of a two-state solution and set an expectation that the status quo can continue and see the effective erasure and annexation of Palestinian territory".
The 59 MPs suggest the government pursue five different measures to prevent the Israeli government from carrying out its Rafah plan, adding that they believed Gaza was being "ethnically cleansed" - a claim vehemently denied by Israel.
The letter was organised by Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East group.
It states that the Israeli plan, which would see the "population transfer to the southern tip of Gaza in preparation for deportation outside the strip", is an accurate description, but that they believe a clearer way to describe it is the "ethnic cleansing of Gaza".
Israeli officials have said they want to separate the civilian population from Hamas, which still controls parts of Gaza and holds dozens of hostages abducted in the October 7 attack that triggered the war 21 months ago.
Emmanuel Macron discussed recognising Palestine as a state at a joint news conference with Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday - the same day the letter was signed.
The French president said: "Today, working together in order to recognise the state of Palestine and to initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace."
While France has not yet recognised a Palestinian state yet, Norway, Ireland and Spain coordinated their recognition last year.
The letter demands ministers take five different measures to:
• Recognise the state of Palestine
• Continue support for the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)
• Secure the release of hostages
• Press for the full and unhindered resumption of humanitarian aid
• Fully review and place restrictions on trade with and financial support of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank
The government says it is already providing funding for the UNRWA and working to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, but immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood will be a much more controversial move.
Sky News understands this is the second time MPs have formally called on the government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine, with previous letters signed by some parliamentary aides and even junior ministers.
Ministers have indicated their plan to recognise Palestine would be "at a time that is most conducive to the peace process" without further clarity of when that might be.
They have also indicated that it would not be suitable to speculate about future sanctions, as this could reduce their impact.
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