Independent MP Shockat Adam introduced a cross-party bill to Parliament calling for recognition of the State of Palestine.
The bill’s sponsors include the independent Muslim MPs Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohamed, Ayoub Khan
Other sponsors include independents Jeremy Corbyn and Ian Byrne, Green Party’s Sian Berry, SNP’s Brendan O’Hara and Stephen Gethins, and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville-Roberts. MP Kim Johnson is the only Labour sponsor.
In a parallel move, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran presented a similar bill to Parliament this week.
“I have submitted a bill to parliament for the UK to formally recognise the state of Palestine, this would be a significant step in supporting the rights of the Palestinian people,” said Shockat Adam in a statement.
“The time for Palestine and Palestinians is now. As Israel has done everything in its capacity to destroy any chance of Palestinian statehood – through settlement, land theft, and now the wholesale decimation of Gaza – British recognition will serve to reinforce the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, which cannot be vetoed by Israel.
“This would further ensure a path to peace for everyone in the region and the world, and would not come at the expense of any community.
“There are 146 of the 193 members of the United Nations that recognise Palestine as a state, the UK must align with these nations to support peace and justice in the region.”
Support for Palestinian statehood grows
Moran, Parliament’s first and only member of Palestinian descent, also presented her bill to recognise Palestinian statehood — a motion she has consistently introduced in every session since her election in 2017.
The bill has drawn cross-party support, with co-sponsors including Labour MPs Alex Sobel, Andy McDonald and Andy Slaughter, Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, fellow Liberal Democrats Calum Miller, Alistair Carmichael and Tom Morrison, and Green Party’s Ellie Chowns.
“I was pleased to present my Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill in Parliament today, as I have done every session since being elected,” said Moran on X.
“The only way to end the ceaseless violence is through a two-state solution. And a two-state solution requires just that – two states.”
In May, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised the Palestinian state. They joined the growing list of nations officially recognising Palestinian statehood, bringing the total to 146 out of 193 UN member states.
