THE Palestinian ambassador to the UK has said that the new Labour Government can do “a lot more” to help bring an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Husam Zomlot spoke with The National in an exclusive interview just moments after Keir Starmer addressed members at the party’s annual conference in Liverpool on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister called again for a ceasefire in Gaza but his speech was derailed towards the end when a protester was kicked out after being heard shouting: “What about the children in Gaza?”
The Labour Government has suspended about 30 out of a total of 350 arms export licences to Israel, amid concerns they could be used in violation of international humanitarian law in the Gaza conflict – but have been condemned by many, including human rights groups, for not going further.
“Rather than just calling for a ceasefire, an immediate ceasefire, [the Labour Government] need to create the leverage to enforce a ceasefire on Netanyahu and Israel,” he said.
“That requires sanctions, that requires a full arms embargo, that requires accountability at the International Criminal Court (ICC), that requires not only endorsing the ICJ ruling but actually following its recommendation and following the UN General Assembly resolution as opposed to abstaining as the government did. And that requires the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine.”
“Pulling out of the previous government's intervention at the IICC and saying that this new government fully respects its independence and the international judicial system – this is very important for us,” he said.
🗣️ 'The immediate recognition is a right for the Palestinian people - it's not a gift, it's not a favour' We spoke with Palestinian ambassador to the UK @hzomlot on what more Labour can be doing to help the people of Gaza pic.twitter.com/1GGFhKPe2X
— The National (@ScotNational) September 24, 2024
“So yes, we see change. But we don't believe that the change is enough.”
He added: “Accountability is paramount, not only because justice needs to be served to the victims, but we must deter the next war criminals.
“That's the key thing, that this should never, ever happen again.”
Zomlot said that if the new Labour Government is committed to international law, as Starmer mentioned in his speech, “there has to be a complete full ban on arms exported to Israel. Period.”
The diplomat said F-35 jets – which weren’t included in the UK’s list of suspended arms licenses – are of “particular concern”.
“These beasts, these jet fighters, are primarily responsible for the mass murder and the mass destruction of civilian people and structures in Gaza and, therefore, to exclude them is literally showing that this isn't about Gaza. This isn't about stopping Israel.”
