The Muslim Council of Britain welcomes reports that the Prime Minister is preparing to formally recognise the State of Palestine. For decades, Palestinians and their allies have called for this recognition, and today we acknowledge this long-overdue step towards justice.
Yet recognition alone cannot end the suffering of millions of Palestinians. The right to statehood and self-determination is enshrined in international law; it is not conditional, nor is it a bargaining chip. Any attempt to attach conditions to this recognition risks reducing justice to a token gesture, even as Palestinians in Gaza face genocide and the destruction of civilian life.
Dr. Wajid Akhter, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said: “Recognition is welcome, but words must be matched by deeds. The British public will rightly ask: how does recognition sit alongside continued arms sales, military cooperation, and record levels of trade with Israel?
True recognition requires an end to complicity in war crimes. Both the International Court of Justice and a recent UN commission of inquiry have found there are reasonable grounds to conclude that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Against this backdrop, recognition without meaningful action risks emboldening an extremist government while failing to uphold Britain’s international obligations.
Dr. Akhter continued: “This step should mark the beginning, not the end, of Britain’s moral responsibility. We call on the Government to accompany recognition with tangible action: an immediate halt to all arms sales to Israel, a reassessment of trade agreements, and full support for international justice mechanisms such as the ICJ and ICC. Only then can recognition carry real meaning.”