The Lib Dems are urging Sir Keir Starmer to call on Donald Trump to reverese a decision to block Palestinian officials from attending the UN General Assembly, when the US president arrives for a state visit later.
The UK is next week expected to formally recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN meeting, something the US is strongly opposed to.
The White House has taken the unusual step of blocking Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials from attending the UN in New York by revoking their visas.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has called on the PM to raise the issue with Trump – and if the US president refuses to restore the visas to push for the UN meeting to be moved to Geneva.
Sir Ed, who is boycotting the state banquet being held for the US president, said: “President Trump has made the reckless decision to block Palestinian officials from attending the UN General Assembly, meaning Palestinians are shut out of the very place meant to deliver peace.
“Keir Starmer must raise this with Trump when he lands for the state visit this evening.
“Donald Trump cannot be allowed to block progress towards a two-state solution.
“Britain must show leadership and make sure Palestinians have a voice at the UN.”
Announcing the visa ban in August, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed Palestinian officials for undermining peace efforts and for seeking “the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state”.
The decision, welcomed by Israel, is unusual as the US is expected to facilitate travel for officials of all countries wishing to visit the UN headquarters.
Sir Keir has said the UK will formally recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN summit, which gets under way next Tuesday, if Israel does not meet certain conditions.
These include Israel agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.
Sir Ed Davey and the Lib Dems’ 72 MPs have written to Sir Keir to urge him to put pressure on Trump to reverse the Palestinian delegation’s visa ban.
“If he refuses to act,” the letter adds, Sir Keir must call for next week’s summit to be relocated to the UN’s offices in Geneva, Switzerland, so that the Palestinian officials can attend.
The State of Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states.
At the UN, it has the status of a “permanent observer state”, allowing participation but no voting rights.
It comes as UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Coooper condemned Israel over the latest military offensive in Gaza.
Residents still in Gaza City were warned to leave and head south as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) advanced.
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said “Gaza is burning” after heavy strikes overnight targeted the city before the ground assault.
Yvette Cooper said on X: “The new IDF assault on Gaza is utterly reckless and appalling.
“It will only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians & endanger the remaining hostages.
“We need an immediate ceasefire, all hostages released, unrestricted humanitarian aid and a path to lasting peace.”