UK New Ruling ANTI-ISRAEL?

The recent appointment of a high-ranking British government official with a history of anti-Israel and pro-Gaza views may influence the UK’s new ruling Labour Party’s stance on Israel’s conflict with Hamas.

 

Shabana Mahmood, the secretary of state for justice, demanded an urgent ceasefire in Gaza in March and charged Israel with murdering defenseless civilians. Nonetheless, Muslim voters who support Palestine have questioned her dedication to their cause.

 

In a letter to voters in March, Mahmoud stated, “I have always supported a diplomatic process to stop the killing of innocent civilians, get humanitarian aid in, and get the hostages out.” However, it is evident that diplomatic efforts have not advanced far enough. This war has been conducted in an intolerable manner, with a disproportionate number of attacks on innocent people, as international tribunals have rightfully discussed.”

 

In the Birmingham Ladywood constituency, Mahmood prevailed over Independent candidate Akmed Yakoob, who supported Palestine. The Muslim community has criticized her for not voting in favor of a Gaza truce in November and for refusing to step down from the shadow government due to her party’s backing of Israel.

 

Mahmood has stayed on top of the matter as a Muslim woman and a lawmaker from a predominantly Muslim city (according to the 2021 census, 29.9% of Birmingham’s citizens identify as Muslims). She recognized in February that the party had lost the trust of Muslim voters in Britain due to Labour’s backing for Israel, Middle East Eye reported. She supported and signed a new law later that month that called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Even while the party has demonstrated a strong commitment to Israel, Mahmood’s personal beliefs contradict this. She asked people to support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign by organizing a rally outside a Sainsbury grocery shop in Birmingham City Center in 2014. She also tweeted the hashtag “#FreePalestine.”

 

Mahmood also emphasized in a letter to her voters, sent soon after the Oct. 7 attack, her record as a “lifetime supporter of the rights of Palestinians,” but she also condemned the attack by Hamas and underlined that “international humanitarian laws” have to be observed “at all times.”

 

With a historic result, Labour secured the second-largest majority in Parliament following Tony Blair’s historic victory in 1997. The party’s victory, meanwhile, is based on several inaccurate statistics, including record-low voter turnout and the fact that the reigning Conservative party and the more right-wing Reform UK Party had to share votes.

 

As the primary opposition to Labour, the Conservatives lost over 200 seats and ultimately only managed to secure 121 seats. The largest victory for a third party in more than a century was achieved by the Liberal-Democrats (LibDems), who won 72 seats.