The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) will deliver a letter to 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, 29th April 2025, urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The letter, signed by representatives of organisations or individuals (in their individual capacity) representing thousands of British Muslims from a diverse cross-section of communities, highlights the profound concern felt by Muslims throughout Britain regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Since October 2023, approximately 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza. According to UNICEF, 15,000 children have been killed and over 34,000 injured, with nearly one million children repeatedly displaced. In the past five weeks alone, at least 322 children have been killed and 609 more injured amid a renewed Israeli offensive.
The signatories, comprising both large and small organisations from every region of the UK, are calling on the British government to urgently:
- Join European partners such as France and Spain in recognising Palestine as a sovereign, independent state
- Demand an immediate end to the mass killing of civilians and ensure the safe return of all hostages on both sides
- Facilitate the immediate and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza
- Cease all arms exports and military support to the Israeli government
Commenting on the letter, Secretary General Dr Wajid Akhter said:
“We are at a watershed moment as events in Gaza intensify, with more innocent lives lost each day. British Muslim communities, alongside countless others across the country, are simply calling for a foreign policy rooted in justice, humanity, and international law.
“We have rightly mobilised a coalition of the willing to oppose Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine, yet the illegal occupation of Palestine and the mass killing of Palestinian civilians is met with silence. We urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to show moral leadership and act swiftly. Britain has an opportunity to lead international efforts towards ending this conflict and recognising Palestinian statehood. France has indicated that they are going to recognise a Palestinian state in June. Norway, Spain and many other European nations have already done so. It would be a tragedy if Britain was to miss this opportunity to be on the right side of history and to lead on an issue that every Government has been committed to but not acted on.”
The full letter and list of signatories can be viewed on the following link: https://bit.ly/pmlettergazapalestine
Notes to Editors:
- The letter will be delivered to 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, 29th April 2025
- For press enquiries, please contact: media@mcb.org.uk