Cafod and C of E bishops welcome recognition of Palestine by UK

Cafod is among the organisations to welcome the “long-overdue recognition of Palestine”, describing it as a statement that UK government believes the Palestinian people should have their own, independent viable state. 

“Concrete steps are now urgently needed, to work towards this goal as quickly as possible in support of a more peaceful and secure future for Palestinians and Israelis alike, Cafod said. 

Elizabeth Funnell, Cafod’s Middle East country representative, said, “Amid the utter devastation and destruction we’re witnessing in Gaza, and the exponential increase in illegal settlements in the West Bank, the recognition of Palestine by the UK is an important act of solidarity in support of a political path to promoting rights, peace and security for all. The UK now must do all it can to ensure that a safe and viable Palestinian state becomes a reality.” 

A group of Church of England bishops with a close interest in the Holy Land also welcomed the announcement.

Bishop of Southwark Christopher Chessun, lead bishop for the Middle East, together with the Bishops of Chelmsford, Gloucester and Norwich, Guli Francis-Dehqani, Rachel Treweek and Graham Usher, said the decision could help undercut extremist narratives and strengthen moderates.

The announcement by prime minister, Keir Starmer, along with similar moves by the governments of France, Canada, Australia and Portugal, came as churches held a day of prayer for peace in the Middle East.

The bishops said: “We welcome the decision of His Majesty’s Government to recognise Palestinian Statehood, one that many bishops have advocated for over 10 years. We hold that it is the reasonable aspiration of all peoples to belong to a state and enjoy the merits of full and active citizenship on their own lands.

“The British Government recognised Israel’s right to self-determination and statehood in 1950, but it has delayed till now recognising Palestinian statehood as the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. This decision now provides much needed parity of esteem and equal status for both peoples.

“This decision will not alleviate the horrors unfolding in Gaza today – horrors that a UN Independent Commission of Inquiry described last week as genocide. Neither will it end the intensifying levels of settler violence, house demolition and administrative detention that we are witnessing across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

“But, it does offer all Palestinians the hope of a future free from occupation and violence not only for them but for all future generations. It sends a strong moral and political signal that this occupation is unjust and untenable and must be brought to an end through negotiations.”

However, families of hostages held in Gaza condemned the decision to recognise a Palestinian state, calling it a betrayal of humanity and a move that rewards Hamas while 48 hostages remain in captivity, deliberately starved and tortured for 716 days. Hamas has already celebrated the UK’s move as a victory, while continuing to block ceasefire deals and humanitarian access, the families said.

The families also stressed that this crisis is not only a political or military matter, but a legal and moral one. “Hamas’ starvation, torture, and denial of medical care to the hostages are clear violations of international humanitarian law.”

Mandy Damari, British mother of released hostage Emily Damari, said, “Keir Starmer is under a two state delusion. While one of the states is still run by a proscribed terrorist organisation whose very charter is to annihilate Israel from the river to the sea, a two state solution can never happen. But even if he thinks he is right, he is rewarding Hamas for the 7 October barbaric and savage attack on Israel when the hostages are still not back, the war is not over and Hamas are still in power in Gaza.”

Last week, in a statement ahead of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace on 21 September, UK church leaders warned that the ground assault begun by the Israel Defence Forces on Tuesday “will only intensify the human suffering and misery as already malnourished and traumatised families are forced, yet again, to flee the horrors of this war”.

The 30 signatories from different Christian denominations included the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales, and the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell.

“We remain steadfastly against the evils that this war has unleashed and we stand firm in our belief that this is not the right way, that death and destruction will not triumph,” they said.

“Even though the consequences of this war will be long lasting, and the prospects for a just and lasting peace appear distant, we continue to have faith that a better future is possible – a peace that upholds all human dignity and that provides for the flourishing of all communities.”

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