Labour Conference Urges UK to Act on Gaza Genocide Claims, Lammy Denies

At the 2025 Labour Party conference in Liverpool, delegates overwhelmingly passed a non-binding motion urging the UK government to prevent what they identify as genocide in Gaza and to suspend the arms trade with Israel. The motion accepted the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocide against Palestinians, though Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy maintained that international courts should determine the genocide claim. The Palestinian ambassador praised Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state and called for official acknowledgment of genocide in Gaza as Labour policy. The Israeli Embassy in the UK condemned the motion, calling it a reward for terror that legitimizes extremism and ignoring Hamas's role and the plight of Israeli hostages. Labour leaders, including Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Keir Starmer, expressed support for peace efforts and the US-led peace initiative, while activists and union representatives pushed for stronger government action against Israel's policies. The developments reveal deep divisions within the UK political landscape over the Israel-Gaza conflict, with grassroots Labour members advocating for a more assertive stance against Israeli actions and official leaders emphasizing the role of international legal bodies and diplomatic solutions.