Letter adds to pressure on prime minister as archbishop of York condemns violence in Gaza as ‘depraved’ and ‘barbaric’
Dozens of former UK ambassadors and diplomats have piled pressure on Keir Starmer to recognise a Palestinian state amid growing international revulsion at the harrowing scenes in Gaza.
Their letter to the prime minister came as the archbishop of York condemned the dehumanisation of people in Gaza as “depraved” and “barbaric”. It was “a stain on the conscience of the international community”, and Israel’s “war of aggression” was a “grave sin”, said Stephen Cottrell, the de facto leader of the Church of England.
The strength of the language used by Cottrell is a reflection of rapidly shifting opinion as images emerge from Gaza of starving children and accounts of civilians being killed as they try to secure food for their families.
In Starmer’s cabinet, there has been a growing sense of horror and despair in recent weeks over Israel’s actions and the scenes in Gaza. This week, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, publicly called for recognition while there was “still a state of Palestine left to recognise” and condemned Israeli actions that went “well beyond legitimate self-defence”.
