LDFP News Bulletin: March 2025

Welcome to the Liberal Democrats Friends of Palestine (LDFP) news bulletin. This bulletin aims to keep you up to date and engaged with the latest updates related to LDFP and Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians’ contributions about Palestine in parliament.

National Demonstration for Palestine: Nakba 77
Saturday 17 May

The next national demonstration for Palestine will take place on the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, the 1948 catastrophe in which Palestinians were violently expelled from their homes. The march will begin at 12 noon in Central London (exact route TBC).
We hope to see as many of you there as possible. By having a strong Lib Dem presence, we can make clear our commitment to an immediate ceasefire, an end to illegal occupation, peace, justice, accountability and a free Palestine.
For more details, or to join the ‘Peace March – Info for Lib Dems’ WhatsApp group, email info@ldfp.org.uk.

Parliamentary Round Up – Oral Interventions

(4 March) Westminster Hall – Palestinian Rights: Government Support

Pippa Heylings MP: “There has been a huge increase in settlement and settler violence since the Hamas attacks on 7 October. With attention focused on Gaza and the hostage crisis in Israel, it has given settlers an opportunity to attack with increasing impunity…The suffering we witnessed compels us to act, speak out and ensure that the rights of those who have long been marginalised are protected.”

Will Forster MP: “In the West Bank, I saw the daily reality of life under occupation: the constant roadblocks, the endless checks and the ever-present fear. I met families who have been forcibly removed from their homes and villages that have been demolished six times. Palestinians are treated worse than second-class citizens. The UK cannot turn a blind eye to this injustice. We should use the financial sanctions available to us as a country to target Israeli settlements, to uphold international law and human rights.”

Monica Harding MP:“The UK must also take a stand by immediately recognising the state of Palestine. When I visited, I saw for myself the rapidly shrinking state. Before it disappears, we must recognise it. However, recognition alone is not enough; we must actively work with international partners to support democratic leadership in Palestine, invest in peacebuilding initiatives, and use trade as a tool for economic co-operation and stability.”

Watch on Parliament TV.
Read the debate transcript.

(4 March) House of Commons – Gaza

Calum Miller MP: “The Israeli Government are wrong to prevent humanitarian aid entering Gaza. That threatens the lives of Gazans who are dependent on aid after the destruction of the past 15 months, and is a clear breach of international humanitarian law… Does the Minister agree that we in the UK must do all we can to undermine the extremists in this conflict, so that a second phase of the ceasefire can be negotiated, all hostages can be released, and Gazans can receive the aid that they desperately need?”Watch on Parliament TV.

Layla Moran MP: “You may have seen the Oscars ceremony this week, Mr Speaker, which featured an incredible film called “No Other Land”, which highlights the forced displacements in Masafer Yatta, and was made by Israelis and Palestinians together. It won the Oscar. I bet they would trade every gong going for that film to have its desired effect, and for the violence to stop. We can do something, and if ever there was a time for us to ban the illegal settlement goods that fund those extremist settlers, is now not that time?”

Watch on Parliament TV.
Read the debate transcript.

(14 March) House of Lords – Palestinian Statehood (Recognition) Bill

Baroness Northover: “The idea that Gaza should be cleared out and its population moved to other countries to become an American riviera is deeply shocking. My Bill would require the Government to recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state on pre-1967 lines, just as almost 150 of the 193 UN countries have done. Some say that recognition is merely symbolic, not changing anything on the ground, but recognition has importance—that Palestinians have the right to self-determination, national rights and the legal benefits of that, just like Israelis.”

Baroness Janke:“By immediately recognising the state of Palestine, the UK is standing in solidarity with other UN members and against the grotesque Trump plans for ethnic cleansing… As other noble Lords have said, we must seize the moment and take a stand to work for peace, justice and security for both states through the two-state solution.”

Watch on Parliament TV.
Read the debate transcript.

(20 March) House of Commons – Conflict in Gaza

Helen Maguire MP:“Israel’s resumption of its military campaign in Gaza is heartbreaking for all Palestinians, for the remaining hostages and their families, and for the world… A new ceasefire must be secured as soon as possible. To that end, what discussions has the Foreign Secretary had with the Israeli Government on rapidly recommitting to a ceasefire?”

Alistair Carmichael MP:“The language that we use in this conflict matters. We know what has happened and the Foreign Secretary has reminded us today: for weeks, supplies of basic goods and electricity have been blocked. To say that Isreal “risks” breaching international law for having done that, is to say that this country does not see those acts as a prima facie breach of international law—that is how it will be heard in Tel Aviv. Is that really the Government’s position?”

Watch on Parliament TV.
Read the debate transcript.

(2 April) House of Commons – Gaza: Israeli Military Operations

Monica Harding MP:“Israel’s expansion of military activity in Gaza, including a strike on UN medical facilities, displacement of civilians and the Defence Minister’s new proposal to seize large swathes of territory is gravely disturbing. It seems that international humanitarian law is being violated. This week’s reports that the Israeli Defence Forces killed and buried 15 humanitarian workers in a mass grave is also appalling. The ceasefire must be restored.”

Watch on Parliament TV.
Read the debate transcript.

Layla Moran MP:“We need a ceasefire now—again—because the situation on the ground is as bad as it has ever been, if not worse… If this Government do not support this escalation, where are the consequences? We do have leverage. Why have they not suspended all arms sales to the IDF—not because of a risk of it hitting civilians, but because we have principles and will show intent?”

Watch on Parliament TV.
Read the debate transcript.

Parliamentary Round Up – Written Questions

(10 March) Tom Morrison MP — Trade Agreements: Israel
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to prohibit the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements under the terms of proposed UK-Israel free trade agreement.
Government response: Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the agreement between the UK and Israel, or in our agreement with the Palestinian Authority.

(10 March) Tom Morrison MP — Trade Agreements: Israel
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will review the terms of the UK/Israel: Trade and Partnership Agreement, in the context of allegations of human rights violations in Israel.
Government response: Awaiting response (due for answer by 12 March)

(11 March) Tom Morrison MP — Trade Agreements: Israel
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of a free trade agreement between the UK and Israel on the use of (a) surveillance and (b) cybersecurity technologies manufactured by UK businesses in Gaza.
Government response: Any export of controlled items requires approval under the UK’s Export Controls regime – this is not affected by whether there is an FTA in place or not.

(20 March) Calum Miller MP — Gaza: Human Rights
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 17 March 2025 on G7, Official Report, column 41 and 46, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK is fulfilling its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Government response: As soon as the Foreign Secretary took office, he ordered a review into Israel’s compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which concluded that there was a clear risk that UK export items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations IHL. I also receive legal advice as appropriate on the UK’s obligations. The IHL assessments continue and we are closely monitoring developments in Gaza and will keep this position under review. The UK has raised compliance with IHL with Israel at the most senior levels and has discussed it with G7 partners. We have suspended relevant export licences to Israel for use in military operations in the Gaza conflict. We have continued to review export licences for items to Israel and assess that there are no extant licences for items that might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. This is subject to the specific measures set out before Parliament excluding exports to the global F-35 programme from the scope of the suspension. Our longstanding position is that it is for the courts to determine whether or not a crime has been committed.

(24 March) Sarah Green MP — Gaza: Health Services
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that medical aid reaches civilians (a) at the Nasser Hospital and (b) elsewhere in Khan Younis.
Government response: Awaiting response (due for answer by 31 March).

(27 March) Lord Roberts of Llandudno — Arms Trade: Israel
To ask His Majesty’s Government when they last assessed whether Israel has breached the humanitarian criteria for arms sales from the UK to that country.
Government Response: Awaiting response (due for answer by 10 April).