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[Andy Burnham @andyburnham]

In a difficult and dangerous world, a decade on from Brexit, there is a risk that Britain loses the confidence to lead and stand up for its values.

I’m not prepared to let that happen. It is more important than ever that Britain stands for something.

We have called for years for a two-state solution in the Middle East, but we must recognise that those words are meaningless unless we back them up with action.

For too long, we have been hesitant to act, fearful of being accused of being anti-Israel.

Today we are announcing carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government.

The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world. Innocent Palestinians, including children, continue to be killed in Gaza. And there is still a humanitarian crisis, with far too little aid getting in.

The scale of destruction is hard to comprehend. More than 70,000 people lie dead - at least 20,000 of them children. Families and communities have been torn apart. Millions displaced. And the population of Gaza is now penned into just one third of the territory.

I know that people across the UK feel very deeply about this issue - and so do I.

Before I became Prime Minister, I said our country’s response had been too slow and simply not good enough. That’s why I committed to changing the government’s approach.

I will not stand by as the horrific suffering continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution - the best hope for peace and stability in the region - comes under attack.

More settlements have been approved under the four years of this Israeli government than in the previous 20 years. The UN has reported more than 1,500 incidents of settler violence so far this year, aimed at driving out Palestinians. And the situation is growing worse, fast.

The Israeli government has now approved 104 new settlements since it took office in December 2022, and ahead of the October elections in Israel, it is allowing tenders for the construction of the E1 mega settlement to go ahead. This would cut a swathe through the heart of the West Bank - snuffing out the hope of realising a two-state solution. It cannot be allowed to happen.

That’s why we are announcing a new package of tough measures to put pressure on the Israeli government:

First, we will ban the trade in goods with illegal settlements in Palestine.

Second, we have formally changed the view of the British government to say for the first time that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful - independent of, but in line with, the conclusion of the international court of justice.

And third, we will sanction individuals and companies that support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlements. That includes any businesses or investors that take part in the construction of the E1 settlement.

In addition, we are announcing a new package of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.

We are taking these steps because it is the right thing to do.

I have condemned the monstrous terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 in the strongest possible terms - and continue to condemn Hamas. However, it does not justify the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza or the West Bank.

The measures we are taking are about targeting illegal settlements and increasing the pressure on the Israeli government to change course. We are not imposing sanctions on Israel as a whole, which would punish the Israeli people, many of whom disagree with their government’s position.

The Israeli people are not responsible for the actions of their government. And nor is the Jewish community in the UK. Blaming British Jews for the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is wrong, plain and simple. And it is antisemitism, plain and simple.

I met the representatives of the Jewish community just last week. I know the fear they live with day by day. My government will stop at nothing to ensure they are safe and to stamp out antisemitism in every part of our society.

The measures we are announcing today are about protecting the only solution that could see the Israeli and Palestinian people living side by side in peace and security - something that people up and down the UK desperately want to see.

The government I lead will keep working with our partners around the world to keep that hope alive.

[olivia akgae @yslsours]

Palestinian brand Nöl Collective was about to shut down after their fabric shipment was destroyed by customs and roads were blocked but olivia helped them with her tour commission 🥲

[Fitzjimi @fitzjimi]

What is going on @BBCNews Angela Raynor paid the wrong stamp duty and you were on her like a dog with bone. Farage is on film accepting massive illegal overseas payments and you look the other way. WHY am I paying a licence fee for this rubbish?

[Cardi B @iamcardib]

This was soooo fun to do.. check out my Life in Looks with Vogue Arabia https://t.co/bb80AwWHWK

[Dolly Parton @DollyParton]

Denim's always a do 😘

[H @Hxxxkr]

Omds Dolly nooo ☹️☹️

[Pop Base @PopBase]

The legendary Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80.

[Mark Ruffalo @MarkRuffalo]

The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect.  Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life.

This merger has real consequences for real people, and for the entire country. Scrutinizing the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary. The $111 billion deal would hand one family control over CNN, HBO and Warner Bros., backed in part by foreign money whose influence on editorial decisions has never been fully explained to the public. 

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for serious national security review, and regulators still haven’t given the public a real answer. Until they do, the merger shouldn’t move forward. Now is the time to dive boldly into all these issues, not step back or concede.

[Politics Global @PolitlcsGlobal]

🚨🇱🇧 NEW: A Financial Times investigation has found that the IDF are “systematically” destroying homes, roads and farmlands despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah

[@FT]

[Wokerati Marty @WokeratiMarty]

Sangita Myska lost her job at LBC just because she took an Israeli government spokesman to task over their illegal attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus, Syria.

This is what journalism should look like, but it gets you sacked in the UK.

[a 🍉 @stillwithjin]

what the pakistani army is currently doing in kashmir is so fucking cruel and scary. shooting at protestors and killing them with no remorse, full media blackout so news doesnt get out, complete authoritarian control over the people. we need to fight harder for a free kashmir

[⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ @mneology]

posh and becks #loveisland #loveislanduk

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham has sacked David Lammy as Justice Secretary and Deputy PM

[iraq obama @ducktelevision]

the hottest person you know can't see without their glasses

[✿ @ntltclacy]

people lack comprehension skills. jasmine pulled finley and told him to communicate clearly and stop leading the girls on.

julia was actively pushing aidan to choose elicia saying she “hates it” that aidan prefers priya. it’s different.

[Leah Dionne @leahdionne__]

Israel hunted the taxi that him and 2 children were in then murdered them
There are no words for this evil anymore

[SNEAKO @sneako]

World Cup 2030 is just going to be Messi and ten IDF soldiers shooting you in the fucking face

[Ipostanything LFC @postanythingLFC]

The fact that Mo Salah with the Egyptian coach and staff keeps urging the referee to review the VAR but they neglected and never did tells you everything you need to know. https://t.co/bC7b3H807H

[Melissa Sigodo @melissasigodo]

I’ll never forget Keir Starmer’s island of strangers speech and how he fanned the flames of hateful anti-immigration rhetoric that is radicalising people & making the country less safe for us all. What a legacy to leave behind as a Labour leader.

[Praise @PraiseClip]

“Testing positive for pregnancy” is an in interesting way to say “being raped and impregnated by ICE agents”

[Football Tweet ⚽ @Footballtweet]

❌🌎 Three players have now been stopped or corrected for attempting to answer questions in Spanish at this World Cup.

🇲🇦 Achraf Hakimi tried to help a TV Azteca journalist by responding in Spanish, only to be immediately told otherwise. He remained calm and answered in English.

🇧🇷 Vinicius Jr. asked if a question could be put to him in Spanish because he was struggling to understand the English, but the request was refused.

🇳🇱 Frenkie de Jong was also willing to answer in Spanish when addressed in the language, yet was again instructed to respond only in English.

FIFA's rules state that you can only ask questions from the language of the two playing nations or otherwise it has to be asked or answered in English.

For a World Cup that brings together nations, cultures and languages from every corner of the globe, it seems absurd to discourage players from communicating in a language they are comfortable with.