UK Labour Party members vote to recognise Gaza genocide at conference

The move adds pressure on the UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which has been slammed over its stance on the Gaza war.

Members of the United Kingdom’s Labour Party have voted to recognise that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, in a move that increases pressure on the UK government to adopt the same position.

Delegates at Labour’s party conference approved an emergency motion backing the findings of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry, which earlier this month concluded that Israel “has committed genocide”. The vote was strongly supported by trade unions.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 4Netanyahu says he supports Trump’s plan to end war on Gaza
• list 2 of 4Here’s the full text of Trump’s 20-point plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza
• list 3 of 4North Korea says denuclearisation would mean surrendering its sovereignty
• list 4 of 4Lawyer for suspect in Kirk killing wants more time to review evidence

The decision contrasts with Labour leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as senior ministers, who have argued that the question of genocide should be determined by international courts rather than politicians.

Israel is facing a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in which it is accused of committing genocide.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy reaffirmed that stance following the conference vote.

“That means that it must be for the ICJ with their judges and judiciary, and for the ICC, to determine the issue of genocide in relation to the convention. It is not for politicians like me to do that,” he said, adding that he believed in “the rules-based order”.

The vote was strongly supported by trade unions [Phil Noble/Reuters]