Protesters gathered in London on Saturday, October 14, 2023, to attend a pro-Palestinian demonstration hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The march was organized in support of Palestinians who have been caught in the crossfire of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The demonstration saw a large number of Brits coming out in support of recognizing a Palestinian state, with a new poll by Survation revealing that almost three out of four respondents were in favor of it. This is a clear indication of the growing solidarity and empathy towards the Palestinian cause among the British public.
The poll, which was commissioned by green entrepreneur and Labour party donor Dale Vince, found that 49% of the respondents were in favor of recognizing Palestinian statehood, while only 13% were opposed to it. This overwhelming support for Palestine comes at a crucial time when the conflict between Israel and Hamas has reached new heights, with fears of mass starvation in Gaza soaring.
The results of the poll have put pressure on the British government, especially on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to take a decisive stance on the issue. In fact, Starmer has recalled cabinet ministers from their summer recess to discuss a peace plan for Gaza today. The public’s call for recognition of a Palestinian state is also in line with Labour’s 2024 manifesto, making it a crucial issue for the party.
The growing support for Palestine has also been fueled by the recent announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron, who has vowed to officially recognize Palestine in the autumn. This has put pressure on other countries, including the UK, to follow suit. Even US President Donald Trump, who is known to be a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has signaled his support for the recognition of Palestine.
However, despite the mounting pressure, Starmer and his government have so far resisted recognizing Palestine. While ministers have stated that it is a matter of “when not if” they will recognize Palestine, they have refused to give a timeline for it. This has caused frustration among the public, who believe that the suffering of innocent Palestinians must come to an end.
Speaking about the poll results, Dale Vince said, “The British public have spoken, and they want recognition of Palestine, and for trade sanctions against Israel. The images of starvation and the daily killings of innocent men, women, and children have horrified the public, who want the suffering to end and for the government to show no fear in confronting Israel head-on over its merciless warmongering.”
The poll also revealed that a majority of Brits (54%) believe that Israel’s actions in Gaza have gone too far, while only 5% disagree. Additionally, 49% of the respondents agreed that the UK government should be more critical of Israel, compared to only 10% who thought the opposite. This shows that the British public is not only in favor of recognizing Palestine but also wants the government to take a stronger stance against Israel’s actions.
The poll also sheds light on the public’s perception of Israel’s actions in Gaza. A significant 52% of respondents believe that Israel has breached international law with its campaign in Gaza, while only 19% disagree. This is a clear indication that the British public sees Israel’s actions for what they are – blatant violations of international law.
In light of these findings, 44% of the respondents believe that the UK should suspend trade with Israel, while only 29% said otherwise. This further highlights the growing support for trade sanctions against Israel, which is seen as a way to hold the country accountable for its actions.
The poll results come at a time when more than 250 MPs have signed a letter calling for the UK to acknowledge a Palestinian state. This adds to the mounting pressure on Starmer and his government to take a stand on the issue. Science Secretary Peter Kyle has also voiced his support for recognizing Palestine, stating that the Palestinians should be “rewarded” for what they have been through.
In an interview with Times Radio, Kyle said, “Palestine has representation by Hamas in Gaza. It has the Palestinian Authority on the West Bank. It is a complicated, difficult set of circumstances. But no longer can we sit back and see what is happening in that region and think that the Palestinian people should not be rewarded for what they’ve been through and have the tools at their disposal to move them towards the kind of peace, stability, and dignity that every citizen in every country is owed.”
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