Labour Delegates Back Motion Citing UN Gaza Genocide

Delegates at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool overwhelmingly passed a non‑binding emergency motion accepting a recent UN finding that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide and calling on the UK to suspend the arms trade and the UK‑Israel trade and partnership agreement, ban trade with illegal settlements and impose comprehensive sanctions. The motion passed by a show of hands, defeating an alternative resolution that urged sanctions while also demanding the immediate release of Gaza hostages. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and senior ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, reiterated that determinations of genocide should be made by international courts such as the ICJ and ICC, not by politicians. The decision drew criticism from some within Labour — including Jewish Labour Movement figures who said the motion ignored Hamas and failed to address the hostage issue — while supporters said waiting for court rulings was too slow given ongoing suffering. Outside the conference, police detained demonstrators who supported the proscribed group Palestine Action; Merseyside Police said 64–66 people were arrested on suspicion of carrying articles supporting a proscribed organisation and most were later released on bail. Campaigners including Amnesty criticised the policing of the protesters; Palestine Action was proscribed in July after it claimed responsibility for damage to two RAF Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton.