STARVING FOR RECOGNITION

The idea of supporting Palestinian statehood among the world’s western nations appears to be growing. French President, Emmanuel Macron has made a statement that he will recognise Palestine – in September. Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese also announced possible recognition of Palestine ‘at the right moment’, provided it is demilitarised and that Hamas have no part in a future Palestine. Keir Starmer has stated that statehood is “the inalienable right of the Palestinian people”, adding that he may add UK Government recognition for the state of Palestine – in September, but only if the Israeli regime fails to commit to a ceasefire and a two-state solution. They would then join 147 out of 193 UN member states which have already recognised Palestine.

This could be a significant and positive step. But recognition for Palestine can not depend on Israeli foreign policy. The Western powers’ change of position would be helpful if it is immediate, if it is not conditional, if it includes immediate action to end all arms sales, military co-operation, including the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, along with banning all trade and investment in the companies currently profiting from the occupation and genocide.

Secure Scotland cannot accept an approach that conditions the statehood of a people on the actions and goodwill of their occupier. The recognition of the human rights of Palestinian people is a legally, politically and morally vital step on the road to justice and peace. The same recognition applies to the Israeli people, but it will neither apply to, nor be brought about by acts of genocide, war crimes committed in their name..

Further more, recognition of Palestine will do nothing to help the Palestinians currently being starved by Israel’s government. The priority must be an end to the starvation and killing of the Palestinian people – in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The responsibility for enabling mass starvation, destruction of homes and people also lies with all the states, including the UK, whose leaders are aiding and abetting the Israelli government’s genocide. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. This should have been enough to ensure that powerful governments immediately ceased any arms trading, surveillance support or military cooperation with a state led by either of these men.

This man-made famine requires an international response, with all states supporting the UN and its agencies, particularly UNWRA and UNICEF. Aid distribution and medical care should be undertaken through the appropriate UN agencies and not interfered or impacted in any way by the Israeli Government or its allies. Government members with ICC warrants hanging over them are in no position to be in charge of delivering aid to their victims. Unsubstantiated claims made by Israeli officials about UNRWA being infiltrated by Hamas have been repeatedly made in the media, and refuted by reliable evidence. The urgent need to restore unimpeded access to Gaza by impartial humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) can be met but only with the full support of UN member states that are not compromised by their inability to see past arms trade profits and oppressive colonialism.

Lasting human common security for the region will come from global agreements on land use and resourcing that respect the identity, culture and welfare of nations, rather than their borders and boundaries. The United Nations can only to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war if its member states are united in good faith. Are Messrs Trump, Starmer, Albanese and Macron able to make that commitment? As citizens of Scotland can we insist that they do? Can we take action to do everything we can to amplify the UN request that “All States must act decisively to prevent Israel’s destruction of the conditions of life in Gaza and stop its endless war on humanity,” the experts said. “States must do everything in their power to restore the UN humanitarian system in Gaza.”

Immediate recognition for Palestine must not be predicated on the possibility of a ‘two-state solution’, or on the current Hamas policies or actions, but because it is a necessity for the survival of its people.