Speaking at a London event on Tuesday, Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said recognition of a Palestinian state was only a first step and urged the government to take further measures to support a two-state solution.

She criticized what she described as Britain’s slow response to Israeli plans to expand control in Gaza and called for tougher action against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including restrictions on settlement goods and sanctions on those involved.

Thornberry said the UK had fallen short in upholding international law on Palestine and urged countries that backed Palestinian statehood in 2025 to coordinate economic pressure against settlement expansion.

Her remarks add to growing debate within Britain’s ruling Labour Party over the government’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.