By Connor Rosoman
Reports coming out of Gaza are truly horrifying. The death toll is skyrocketing, including tens of thousands of children, as Israel carries out its genocidal campaign of mass bombing and starvation. Netanyahu now openly talks about taking control of the whole Gaza Strip and the forced relocation of the Palestinian population.
In the face of this mass murder, even Starmer’s blood-soaked government has joined the calls of France, Canada and an increasing number of states to end the war, with the government suspending new trade talks with Israel, and paying lip service to the possibility of recognising a Palestinian state.
Starmer has been forced to recognise the atrocities taking place, even if only partially. What’s happening is so utterly shocking and blatant that even right-wing politicians are beginning to fear the political consequences of being associated with outright ethnic cleansing.
The latest escalations may have been the catalyst for Starmer’s u-turn, but for almost a year, millions have joined protests around the world. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of voters, especially those from a Muslim background, have abandoned Labour, disgusted by the leadership’s appeasement of (and worse, practical support for) the Netanyahu regime.
The bottom line is, whatever strong words might finally be on offer from politicians who were incapable of condemning the cutting off of water and power to Palestinians just months ago, Britain continues to supply Israel with parts for weapons. In other words, this government remains complicit. If Starmer and Lammy think this opportunistic zigzag will regain them the confidence of working people, they are absolutely mistaken.
We must be clear – their role in supporting and arming this murderous campaign will mean history remembers them, too, as monsters.
The massive Nakba Day protest in London this month shows the potential for a new wave of struggle against this genocidal war, and against the imperialist forces that facilitate it. We need to respond to Netanyahu’s horrific rampage by massively stepping up our movement, mobilising the power of collective working-class action.
We need to organise in our workplaces and trade unions, on campuses and in our communities to build a working-class movement that can halt all arms sales to Israel. We should refuse to transport or produce any weapons being used in this slaughter! This means fighting for our unions to go beyond loyally pressuring this government, and instead fighting boldly against it!
We need a new left, anti-war party based on our movements which can stand up to Starmer. Such a party could fight to nationalise the arms companies, for an immediate transition to green, socially useful production with no loss of jobs rather than making weapons of war. What’s more, it could play a key role in supporting the building of a mass working-class movement for socialist change across the Middle East to guarantee the rights of all national communities.
