An inter-faith coalition supporting a just peace in Palestine based on one democratic state has written to the Times in response to an article amplifying the voices of members of the House of lords opposed to the recognition of a Palestinian state.

The article, published on 31 July, warned the British government that it would be in breach of international law if it went ahead with recognising the state of Palestine, something that PM Keir Starmer said his government would do unless Israel too “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza” by September.

At least 60,000 Palestinians have been massacred in Gaza since October 2023 when Israel launched a devastating military attack on the occupied territory.

In the letter, the Convivencia Alliance which comprises Jewish, Muslim and Christian organisations accuses the peers of seeking to divert public attention from the genocide in Gaza with their intervention.

Only this week, the respected Israeli human rights group B’Tselem declared that Israel is committing genocide. Even the former Israeli attorney general, Michael Ben-Yair, stated this week that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The letter reminds the Times that 140 states have already recognised Palestine and that the act of recognition is primaarily a legal one, not a political one.

“By focusing public debate on artificial legal disputes, these lawyers are not only denying Palestinians statehood, but in the midst of a genocide, are erasing the very humanity of the children now being starved in Gaza by Israel”, states the letter.

[ENDS]

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