UNISON stepped up its support for the Palestinian people today as its conference insisted that Britain recognise the state of Palestine.

The union urged urgent steps to reinstate the ceasefire in Gaza scuppered by Israel in March and support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions general secretary Shaher Saed gave a video message to the conference after being denied permission by Israel to travel.

“I speak on behalf of those who struggle against the weight of occupation,” he said. “Bloodshed and genocide continue in Palestine.

“The death toll is 53,000, including 18,000 children, with many thousands still missing, and more than 507,000 workers have become unemployed.

“We want a restoration of workers’ rights.”

He added that “neither displacement or injustice will deter us” in the fight for justice.

NEC speaker Liz Wheatley said: “Millions identify with the injustice facing the Palestinians.

“Our government has a duty to ban trade with the settlements and end the arms trade to Israel.

“We must keep the pressure on Keir Starmer and David Lammy to do more than empty words.

“We need a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation of Palestine.”

Ms Wheatley said that the situation in Palestine “can’t be changed by more love and less hate,” but was about dealing with the root cause of the genocide.

“It has to be the Palestinians who determine their fate,” she said.

“We must also take on our leaders who continue to sell arms to Israel.”

Northern Ireland’s Moira McKenna urged delegates not to be taken in by any organisation that fails to get to the root of the problem, naming Standing Together (ST) as one such.

Other delegates argued that ST was an organisation that helped to bring Palestinians and Israelis together.

But the NEC’s Tony Wilson pointed out that Palestinian trade unions are clear that ST “violates their anti-normalisation policy.”

Sam Church from Surrey argued that “we must differentiate between the working class and the Israeli state.”

John Woods from Portsmouth said: “ST is an attempt to undermine the Palestinian solidarity movement.

“History will judge us on what we do to support the Palestinian people.

“Do not split the BDS movement.”

Northern Ireland regional delegate Stephanie Greenwood said: “We understand how the last atrocity is used to undermine the quest for justice.

“We have no doubt we are dealing with genocide — no ifs, no buts, no whataboutery.

“We need BDS, but it wouldn’t be needed if our governments imposed sanctions on Israel.”