Former UK ambassadors and diplomats have urged Keir Starmer to recognize a Palestinian state due to increasing global outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, condemned the dehumanization occurring in Gaza, labeling it a grave sin and a stain on the international conscience. Within Starmer's cabinet, there is growing shock over Israel's actions, with health secretary Wes Streeting and London mayor Sadiq Khan publicly calling for recognition of a Palestinian state. A letter signed by over 30 former UK diplomats emphasizes that recognition could disrupt the status quo in Gaza and stresses the historical risks of inaction.
The strength of the language used by Cottrell is a reflection of rapidly shifting opinion as images emerge from Gaza of starving children and accounts of civilians being killed as they try to secure food for their families.
The international community including our own government must do far more to pressure the Israeli government to stop this horrific, senseless killing and let vital, life-saving aid in.
The letter to Starmer, which was signed by more than 30 former UK ambassadors and 20 former senior British diplomats at the United Nations, said the status quo in Gaza could be broken by recognising the state of Palestine.
The risks of inaction have profound, historic and catastrophic implications, it said. The state of Israel cannot be secure from threats in the future if the question of Palestine is not taken forward to a political settlement.
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