A cross-party coalition of 34 councillors from Stroud District Council has today sent a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the UK government to immediately and unconditionally recognise the State of Palestine, citing the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the occupied territories.
The councillors express grave concern over the UK government’s current plan to delay recognition until September, and only if certain conditions are met, including an end to military operations, settlement expansion, and the blockade of aid.
In their letter, the councillors call for:Immediate and unconditional recognition of the State of Palestine; A full arms embargo and broad economic sanctions on Israel;A ban on the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements;UK support for the collection of evidence to assist in the prosecution of war crimes.
Cllr Kate Kay (Green) said: “The Green Group and fellow elected politicians in this district have come together to register their horror and despair at the intolerable treatment of the Palestinian people. It has to stop and we urge the UK government to act decisively, and now, to do our part in stopping it.”
Cllr Katy Hofmann (Labour) added: “All members of the Stroud District Council Labour Group share the same desire to see an urgent end to the atrocities in Palestine. We demand an immediate ceasefire, lasting peace and supply of aid, with full recognition of the state of Palestine as soon as is possible.”
Cllr Linda Cohen (Liberal Democrat) said: “There is no justification for these atrocities. We are already too late in taking action—another minute must not be lost. The lives of Palestinian children are as valuable as our own. The Government must take the lead and act today.”
The councillors’ joint statement represents one of the strongest and most unified calls yet from local government for decisive UK action on Palestine. With this appeal, they join a growing number of voices demanding an end to what they describe as an unacceptable delay in recognising the rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian people.
