Labour MPs call on UK to follow France and recognise Palestine ahead of UN conference

The UK government is facing mounting pressure from senior Labour MPs to join an international coalition in recognising Palestinian statehood ahead of the France-led UN conference in June.

Leading the charge is Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who has called on the Foreign Office to "act with friends" in Paris and set an international bid to support Palestinian sovereignty.

"The time is coming," the MP for Islington South and former shadow foreign secretary under ousted Jeremy Corbyn told reporters, "If we don’t act now, there will be no Palestine left to recognise.

"We need to do it with the French. There are a lot of other countries sitting back and waiting."

French President Emmanuel Macron has branded the upcoming conference in New York as a "decisive moment" for recognising the state of Palestine. In a surprise announcement last week, Macron said that France would push toward recognition alongside Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia.

"We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months," Macron told broadcasters on Wednesday. "I will do it (...) because I believe that at some point it will be right and because I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, which must also allow all those who defend Palestine to recognise Israel in turn, which many of them do not do."

The commitment came after Paris made a U-turn from its position a year ago when it abstained from joining Spain, Ireland, and Norway in recognising Palestine despite overwhelming UN General Assembly support.

In response to Macron's comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son has launched a tirade against the French President, calling for the secession of French overseas territories and comparing Macron to a Nazi collaborator.

This shift has also placed diplomatic pressure on the UK, whose official position remains that recognition will come "at a time of maximum impact". But critics argue that this vague position is increasingly out of step with the urgency of the situation in Gaza, where Israel’s relentless bombardment has killed more than 61,700 Palestinians, and wounded over 116,156.

Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU) Chris Doyle echoed Thornberry’s call, saying the UK’s delay "has gone on far too long".

"Recognition of Palestine by two permanent members of the UN Security Council would send a strong and overdue message that Palestinian rights cannot be perpetually sidelined," Doyle said. "If the UK waits any longer, it may be too late."

Tensions between the UK and Israel have also intensified after two Labour MPs were recently barred by Israel from visiting the West Bank. The move has sparked widespread anger within Labour ranks, many of whom have been critical of Israel, which has been accused of genocide and war crimes against Palestinians.

Macron has attempted to balance French recognition efforts with reassurances to both Israel and the Palestinians. Writing in Hebrew on X, he said to be committed to Israel’s security while supporting a Palestinian state "without Hamas".

"This requires the release of hostages, a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and a two-state political solution," Macron wrote. "There is no other path."

As of now, 148 of the UN’s 193 member states officially recognise Palestine. But no Western G20 country has yet taken that step.

The New Arab has approached the UK’s Foreign Office for comment.