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UK Vows to Act as Palestinian 'Horrific Suffering' Deepens
(MENAFN) Britain's prime minister declared Tuesday that he will not remain passive while the "horrific suffering" endured by Palestinians continues mounting, warning that the two-state solution itself "comes under attack."
"We have called for years for a two-state solution in the Middle East, but we must recognise that those words are meaningless unless we back them up with action," Andy Burnham wrote on X.
The measures unveiled by the prime minister are, he said, "carefully judged" and "targeted steps" aimed not at ordinary Israelis but squarely at what he called the "unacceptable policies" of the Israeli government.
"For too long, we have been hesitant to act, fearful of being accused of being anti-Israel," he said, repeating his characterization of Palestinian suffering as "a scar on the conscience of the world."
He recalled that even before taking office, he had already described Britain's response as "too slow and simply not good enough."
"That's why I committed to changing the government's approach. I will not stand by as the horrific suffering continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution - the best hope for peace and stability in the region - comes under attack," he said.
The announcement came as eleven European nations — among them the UK, France, and Canada — unveiled plans Tuesday to impose national-level restrictions on trade tied to Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
Britain's move follows Israel's announcement of plans to build 1,200 new homes in the occupied territory, a step that drew widespread international condemnation given that all settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.
According to UN data, settler violence has climbed to "unprecedented levels," with more than 1,400 attacks causing casualties or property damage recorded in 2026 alone.
Roughly 750,000 Israeli settlers now live across 516 illegal settlements and outposts in the occupied territory, where efforts to push Palestinians off their land occur on a near-daily basis.
"We have called for years for a two-state solution in the Middle East, but we must recognise that those words are meaningless unless we back them up with action," Andy Burnham wrote on X.
The measures unveiled by the prime minister are, he said, "carefully judged" and "targeted steps" aimed not at ordinary Israelis but squarely at what he called the "unacceptable policies" of the Israeli government.
"For too long, we have been hesitant to act, fearful of being accused of being anti-Israel," he said, repeating his characterization of Palestinian suffering as "a scar on the conscience of the world."
He recalled that even before taking office, he had already described Britain's response as "too slow and simply not good enough."
"That's why I committed to changing the government's approach. I will not stand by as the horrific suffering continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution - the best hope for peace and stability in the region - comes under attack," he said.
The announcement came as eleven European nations — among them the UK, France, and Canada — unveiled plans Tuesday to impose national-level restrictions on trade tied to Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
Britain's move follows Israel's announcement of plans to build 1,200 new homes in the occupied territory, a step that drew widespread international condemnation given that all settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.
According to UN data, settler violence has climbed to "unprecedented levels," with more than 1,400 attacks causing casualties or property damage recorded in 2026 alone.
Roughly 750,000 Israeli settlers now live across 516 illegal settlements and outposts in the occupied territory, where efforts to push Palestinians off their land occur on a near-daily basis.
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