IN August, Israel’s renewed bombing of Gaza killed 44 Palestinians, including 15 children, in addition to injuring at least 350. This was described by the UN special rapporteur as an act contrary to international law.

As Michelle Bachelet said, “Such attacks must stop,” and international law is clear that “launching an attack which may be expected to incidentally kill or injure civilians, or damage civilian objects, in disproportionate manner to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated, is prohibited.”

Yet Israel does exactly this in Palestine again and again, year after year.

This followed from the Israeli army’s killing of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11. This week her family have submitted an official complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to demand justice over her death and the beating of her coffin-bearers by Israeli police.

We have also recently seen in August the outlawing of seven Palestinian NGOs by Israel, namely Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, al-Haq, Bisan Centre for Research and Development, Defence for Children International-Palestine, Health Work Committees, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees.

In response, Amnesty International commented that “these organisations have contributed enormously to human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and across the globe, yet Israeli army boots trample all over their work.”

These recent events clearly show the nature of the continuing illegal occupation of Palestine and denial of the Palestinian people’s fundamental rights. They are also illustrative of the conclusions of leading human rights organisations including B’tselem, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people.

As Labour conference takes place this week, where then does the Labour Party now stand on this issue?

Alongside the TUC’s clear expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people, policy passed at Labour’s annual conferences in 2018, 2019 and 2021 give a clear framework for Labour Party solidarity with the Palestinian people.  

In particular, further advancing on the strong positions taken in previous motions, the 2021 conference resolved “to support ‘effective measures’ including sanctions, as called for by Palestinian civil society, against actions by the Israeli government that are illegal according to international law; in particular to ensure that Israel stops the building of settlements, reverses any annexation, ends the occupation of the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza, brings down the Wall and respects the right of Palestinian people, as enshrined in international law, to return to their homes.”  

While standing with the people of Palestine is supported by most party members and affiliates, far too often the party leadership does not clearly speak up for the Palestinian people.  

Last year party leader Keir Starmer and then shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy moved to renounce the motion almost as soon as it was passed.

This was in direct contrast to the specific demand of the motion itself that “the Labour Party must stand on the right side of history and abide by these resolutions in its policy, communications and political strategy.”  

Continuing such an approach from Labour’s front bench would be a disaster for the Palestinian people, especially when Liz Truss’s Tories are now so clearly committed to a position of silencing pro-Palestinian voices, including through legislation attacking our right to boycott.

While media attention on Palestine comes and goes, the continuing occupation means our solidarity must be a constant across the labour and trade union movement, and beyond.   

Now is the time for the whole labour movement to fully stand with all Palestinian human rights defenders and fully oppose the Israeli government’s ongoing attempts to silence them, including through supporting the application made in April to the ICC calling for an investigation into the Israeli government’s systematic targeting of journalists.  

It is also the time to renew calls for an ethical policy with regards to all British trade with Israel in line with policy passed at previous Labour conferences, including banning trade with illegal settlements and ending the ongoing arms trade.

Now more than ever, we must speak up for Palestine.

Follow Labour and Palestine on Twitter @LabourPalestine and join the Palestine Solidarity Campaign at www.palestinecampaign.org.

Meeting: Now is the time to speak up for Palestine at the Labour fringe, Tuesday September 27, 12.30pm, ACC Liverpool, Room 11B. Supported by Unite. Conference pass needed to attend.

Speakers include Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot; Unite international director Simon Dubbins; Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan; Labour NEC member Gemma Bolton; Ryvka Barnard of Palestine Solidarity Campaign; Hugh Lanning of Labour and Palestine; Young Labour international officer Mohammad Suhail; Beth Winter MP; Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP; Kim Johnson MP and John McDonnell MP.