Liverpool, September 28, 2026
Ed Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary, said on Monday at the Labour Party conference that the suffering inflicted on Palestinians by the Israeli government is “a stain on the world’s conscience.” His speech was met with a standing ovation. He told the millions of people affected by and angered over the situation of Palestinians that their voices had been heard and that they had been right.
Miliband condemned Hamas’s October 7 attack and said the Labour Party takes seriously the threats facing Israel. However, he said the attack does not justify the suffering caused by the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Gaza and the West Bank. He stressed that his disagreement is not with the people of Israel, but with the country’s government.
The UK foreign secretary also condemned “ethnic cleansing by extremist settlers” in the West Bank, evidence of war crimes in Gaza, and the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. He added that London would match words with action and ban imports of goods from illegal settlements. The speech followed an announcement on September 8, in which the UK described the occupation as illegal and announced plans to ban imports from settlements and target financing and construction linked to settlement expansion.
Miliband said Andy Burnham’s government had recalibrated its approach toward Israel and the Palestinians. He reiterated his support for a two-state solution, with a secure Israel and a secure Palestine, and freedom, dignity, and the right to self-determination for both peoples. He also spoke about his parents and what he called “the responsibility of a survivor.”
The announcement of sanctions against settlers in early September prompted a strong reaction from Israel, while Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, described it as “hatred of Jews.” A day before the speech, police arrested more than 50 protesters outside the conference venue.
Source: The Labour Party and media reports.
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