Mass pressure must continue.
The government’s statement today is a significant move, setting out intentions to hold Israel to account over its violations of international law and crimes against the Palestinian people. Although belated and still inadequate, the government is right to ban the import of settlement goods, to take action against companies involved in settlements and to extend the suspension of arms sales to Israel, including those used to maintain the occupation of the West Bank. These, along with the other measures announced, must be first steps followed swiftly by serious and further action, which we will continue to push for through our campaigns, in the streets, through our demonstrations and in our lobbying.
Despite protestations to the contrary, it is the mass movement internationally and here in Britain that has forced this announcement today. Over the past three years, millions of people across Britain have marched, protested, campaigned and lobbied for full sanctions on Israel, including a full arms embargo, as the minimum required in the face of an unfolding genocide. That work was built on a foundation built by PSC members over decades, in direct partnership and in response to the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) and for solidarity and support in their struggle.
Whilst successive governments have maligned, smeared and attacked our movement, even when the newspapers showed the horrific reality of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, we knew we were on the right side of history and persisted on. Today’s announcement is a vindication of that work, which has transformed the political conversation in Britain, and proof positive that campaigning does create change, even if at a painfully slow pace.
We recognise that the announcement today may be of little solace to millions of Palestinians whose lives have been brutally destroyed through Israel’s relentless oppression. These measures are too little too late for those who have already paid the cost of Britain’s deep complicity in Israel’s occupation and apartheid. For those who have been murdered by Israel, and for those who have barely survived, today is not a day of celebration. We owe it to them to continue to push for a complete and full end to Israel’s apartheid and the forces in Britain that uphold it.
The coming weeks and months will require us to increase the pressure on the government to hold to its commitments in today’s announcement, and go much further to finally put an end to British support for Israel’s apartheid regime. We cannot squander the opportunity to push further and we will not rest until Palestine is free. Join us in central London on 10 Oct to commemorate three years of Israel’s genocide, and to call for comprehensive sanctions and a full arms embargo on Israel.