It would be churlish not to welcome the Damascene conversion of the Labour leadership on Israel’s unconscionable actions in Gaza but, as your editorial says, this must be translated into action (The Guardian view on the calls to save Gaza: Palestinians need deeds, not words, 20 May). As well as sanctions and an arms embargo, that should include an announcement on the recognition of a Palestinian state – which has already been endorsed in a symbolic Commons motion in 2014 by 11 members of the current cabinet – to revive the moribund peace process.
A key element must be to put pressure on the Americans, who alone have the power to persuade the Israeli government to stop the carnage. While Benjamin Netanyahu has hitherto had Donald Trump’s backing, he will no doubt be aware that the capricious US president, fixated on the bottom line and now distracted by projecting his gold obsession into outer space with his Golden Dome missile defence system, could turn on a dime.
