JUSTICE Secretary Shabana Mahmood has heaped fresh pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to recognise a state of Palestine.
She said it would send a “strong message” to the Israeli Government amid the escalating situation in Gaza.
The PM is under pressure from ministers for the UK to immediately recognise Palestine as a state.
Ms Mahmood said on a visit to Oxford yesterday: “There could be multiple benefits, a lot of people would argue that recognition on its own has a symbolic value that could send a strong message to the Israeli government.
“We here in Britain, my colleague the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, have sent a very clear signal to the Israeli government that we are deeply concerned and appalled and outraged at the situation in Gaza – particularly the escalation that we have seen in recent days.
“It is completely unacceptable and you’ll have seen from the things that the Prime Minister and David Lammy have said that we as a government are outraged at what is going on.
“At the moment, it feels like it’s falling on deaf ears, but there is this further push, particularly from the Americans, for a ceasefire.”
The UK plans to formally acknowledge Palestine as part of a peace process alongside other western countries.
Ms Mahmood echoed the Government’s stance, adding: “It’s a tool that you can use only once.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and French President Emmanuel Macron have also pressured Sir Keir over the issue.
