UK prime minister vows not to stand by as 'horrific suffering continues to grow' in Gaza, West Bank

Burnham defends sanctions on Israeli settlements in West Bank, terms two-state solution 'best hope for peace'

Britain’s prime minister vowed Tuesday not to stand by as "horrific suffering" continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution "comes under attack" in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

In his address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Andy Burnham said recent sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank recognise that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory is unlawful.

The October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas "does not justify the Israeli government's actions in Gaza or the West Bank," he noted, saying that "far too many people have died, including so many children."

"We 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 for both nations -- comes under attack," he added.

Read: UK rejects 'damaging' Israeli retaliation over West Bank settlement sanctions

Burnham said trust will erode if the international community fails to back its support for a two-state solution with concrete action.

Separately, he announced that Britain is developing a new artificial intelligence (AI) defence partnership with the US to "protect our critical national infrastructure."

Citing recent warnings and statements about AI, he said that fundamental decisions on this technology are too important to be left to chance.

Read More: Britain must 'stand against injustice' over West Bank settlements, PM Burnham says

Turning to Russia, he said the UK will be "relentless" in building up its hard power and deterrence but added that "we will not play Russia's game of trading escalatory rhetoric."

"Unlike Russia, we do not seek confrontation. Instead, we will be prepared but not panicked," he added.

Accusing "Russian agencies" of amplifying far-right narratives, Burnham said they have evidence that those agencies tried to interfere with the country’s 2019 general election. "The Kremlin spends around £1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) each year on manipulating information," he said.

He also pointed out the deep ties with EU partners and said the UK seeks to deepen the relations further.