FOREIGN Secretary Yvette Cooper today warned Israel not to expand settlements in the West Bank in retaliation for Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognising Palestine as a state.

She told the BBC that both she and the government have “been clear to the Israeli foreign minister, we have been clear to the Israeli government, that they must not do that” following the historic announcements on Sunday. 

Veteran socialist MP Diane Abbott joined calls for Britain to take action to end the genocide in Gaza beyond the largely symbolic gesture.

She said: “The Palestinian people have a right to their own state. But Britain and other countries supplying Israel are blocking those national rights in practise, by arming a genocide. Recognition needs an arms ban, too.”

Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Fran Heathcote said that recognition “does nothing to pressure Israel to halt the ongoing genocide and dismantle its apartheid regime… meaningful action must start with a complete arms embargo, an end to all military collaboration and economic sanctions, including a ban on all trade with Israel’s illegal settlements.”

Unison general secretary Christina Mcanea echoed her calls, adding: “The situation in Gaza, with widespread famine, has never been more critical.

“Ministers should work with international partners to put pressure on the Israeli government to end the blockade and get unrestricted aid into Gaza without delay.”

Emotional scenes meanwhile broke out as a Palestinian flag was raised at its embassy in London today, as other nations, including France, are set to make similar announcements at the United Nations.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak was among the crowds gathered for the flag-raising ceremony, followed by a speech by Palestine’s ambassador to Britain, Husam Zomlot.

Mr Zomlot called on people to remember “that this recognition comes at a time of unimaginable pain and suffering as a genocide is being waged against us — a genocide that is still being denied and allowed to continue with impunity.

“It comes as our people in Gaza are being starved, bombed and buried under the rubble of their homes; as our people in the West Bank are being ethnically cleansed, brutalised by daily state-sponsored terrorism, land theft and suffocating oppression,” he said.