Gaza Herald – British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband addressed the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Monday, declaring that his government has recalibrated its approach toward Palestine and Israel. He pledged a more progressive and effective foreign policy while confirming continued measures against settlements in the West Bank.
Miliband stated that the only path to peace is a two-state solution ensuring freedom, dignity, and self-determination for both Palestinians and Israelis. He emphasized that while Britain remains aware of threats facing Israel, this cannot justify the suffering caused by the Netanyahu government in Gaza and the West Bank, calling it a stain on the world’s conscience.
He directed a message to millions in Britain and abroad who expressed anger over Palestinian plight, saying, “We hear you. You were right.” Under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he said the party has shifted its stance, condemning ethnic cleansing by settlers in the West Bank and pointing to evidence of war crimes in Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary condemned Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, promising to translate positions into practical actions. He outlined plans to ban imports from illegal settlements and disrupt supply lines, financing, and British services supporting them. He insisted the government would not allow attempts to eliminate the two-state solution.
His remarks received warm applause as he defended previous measures against West Bank settlements. On September 8, Britain banned imports from illegal settlements and targeted individuals and companies providing construction, infrastructure, financing, and real estate services aiding expansion.
The government clarified that sanctions target settlement activity, not trade with Israel, maintaining support for commerce under its two-state position. These moves align with broader international efforts by Britain, France, Canada, and other European nations to restrict settlement product trade, arguing expansion undermines statehood prospects.
Miliband noted Britain’s actions encouraged other countries to take similar steps, viewing multilateral cooperation as part of the new foreign policy approach. He affirmed that protecting the two-state solution requires confronting settlement expansion amid escalating Israeli measures in the West Bank and pressure on Palestinian communities.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
