Welcome to the Liberal Democrats Friends of Palestine (LDFP) news bulletin. This bulletin aims to keep you informed about the latest updates related to Israel-Palestine and Liberal Democrat activity on Palestine. The bulletin is sent to a mailing list of Lib Dems and supporters who have expressed interest in our work. We encourage those who are not already members of LDFP to consider joining (details available here).  This edition includes LDFP’s statement on the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, an overview of our plans for next week’s Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in York, recent Lib Dem Voice articles and a summary from our recent parliamentary briefing on Israel’s banning of aid groups. We also cover this month’s Liberal Democrat Party activity on Palestine, latest news updates, andnew publications on the Rafah paramedic massacre and Israel’s systematic targeting of journalists.

Statement on unlawful US-Israeli military action in Iran The Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine unequivocally condemns the latest unilateral and unlawful US-Israeli military action in Iran and urges the UK Government not to be complicit by allowing the US to use British military bases to attack Iran.  The Iranian people have a right to live free from a brutal regime; however, regime change from the skies can only unleash more bloodshed and regional mayhem – particularly when one of the instigators is an indicted war criminal like Benjamin Netanyahu. The devastating human cost is already evident, including in the killing of 165 Iranian schoolgirls and staff in a strike on a girls’ primary school in Minab.  Marco Rubio has suggested that the US was forced into attacking Iran after being informed that Israel planned to launch strikes first. Under the shadow of these attacks, Israel has stepped up its illegal activities in the State of Palestine, including by closing aid crossings into Gaza and sealing off checkpoints in the unlawfully occupied West Bank. This has been accompanied by a spike in settler violence.  The attacks have diverted international attention at a time when Israel has moved to cement its de facto annexation of the West Bank through major new national legislation and the advancement of its ‘Doomsday’ E1 settlement project. Meanwhile, a genocide remains ongoing in Gaza where Palestinians continue to endure a man-made humanitarian catastrophe and face near-daily Israeli attacks under what is clearly a ceasefire in name only.  Rather than allowing the US to drag us into yet another illegal war in the Middle East, the Labour Government must learn from the mistakes of the past. It must urgently refocus its efforts on protecting the international legal framework and taking consequential action to hold those who undermine it to account Photo Credit : Tasnim News Agency. View the statement on our website.

Federal Party Spring Conference – 13 – 15 March, York Conference agenda There are currently no debates on Palestine scheduled for Spring Conference. We submitted a motion on protecting International Humanitarian Law in the context of Israel–Palestine and other ongoing conflicts, but it was not selected by the Federal Conference Committee. The FCC did indicate that time will be set aside for a debate on Trump, as well as the usual short slot for an emergency motion. We have therefore submitted an emergency motion on Israel’s accelerating de facto annexation of the West Bank, which we believe clearly meets the criteria and ought to be put to a ballot for conference attendees to decide whether it should be debated. Fringe event All LDFP members and supporters are warmly invited to attend our Spring Conference fringe event: Complicit: Britain’s Role in the Destruction of Gaza. 🗓 Saturday 14 March 🕕 6:15–7:15pm 📍 Bootham Room, Hilton York Hotel ☕ Refreshments provided A conversation with Peter Oborne, former chief political commentator at the Daily Telegraph and Spectator, about his book: Complicit: Britain’s Role in the Destruction of Gaza. If you’re unable to attend but would like to learn more about the book, we recommend listening to the Enlightenment Podcast’s recent interview with Peter, which can be watched on YouTube here. Exhibition Stall Throughout the Conference, LDFP will have our usual stall in the exhibition centre, sharing resources and raising awareness about the situation in Palestine and our work. Members attending the conference are very welcome to come and meet us there, and, as always, volunteers at the stall are warmly encouraged. 👉 If you’d like to volunteer some of your time to help run our stall, please let us know by contacting info@ldfp.org.uk.

Lib Dem Voice Articles Palestine and Israel: high time the UK stopped standing by – John Kelly, 18 February  In this article, LDFP Secretary John Kelly condemns the UK Government’s continued failure to act in response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and accelerating de facto annexation of the West Bank. John criticises ministers for ignoring their obligations under the ICJ rulings on Israel-Palestine and warns that continued inaction ultimately amounts to complicity. John calls for the UK to impose meaningful pressure on Israel – including banning trade with illegal settlements, suspending military cooperation, and sanctioning those responsible for violations – and urges Liberal Democrat MPs to work more visibly with other parties to push the Government towards decisive action. My life’s defeat would be emigration”: Encounters in Palestine during my recent visit in January 2026 – Miranda Pinch, 5 March LDFP Committee Member Miranda Pinch recounts her recent visit to the West Bank, where she met Palestinian communities and witnessed the daily realities of life under Israel’s illegal occupation. She describes how Palestinian families are increasingly hemmed in or displaced by illegal settlements, threatened with demolition orders, and cut off from their land, livelihoods and basic services. Drawing on conversations with residents across the territory, Miranda highlights the pervasive sense of insecurity they face and warns that recent Israeli measures to facilitate settler land purchases risk accelerating the de facto annexation of the territory.

Parliamentary briefing on Israel’s banning of international aid groups On 4th February, Liberal Democrat MPs and peers were briefed by a delegation of Palestinian business experts and NGO leaders. The briefing examined how Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian State impacts the Palestinian economy in practice – including through restrictions on land, movement, and trade – and how these policies shape the ability of Palestinian businesses to operate and grow.Speakers highlighted the specific impacts on Palestinian women working in Israeli settlements, who face unsafe working conditions, long hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment and abuse. The discussion also addressed the role of trade with Israel’s illegal settlements in sustaining the occupation, and the legal duty of third states, including the UK, to introduce an immediate and comprehensive ban on settlement trade. The session was hosted by Marie Goldman, Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford.

Lib Dem Activity on Palestine and Israel Max Wilkinson – Palestine Action proscription was a “grave misuse of terrorism laws” On 13 February, responding to the High Court’s ruling that the ban on Palestine Action is unlawful, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP said: “The Liberal Democrats have argued all along that the proscription of Palestine Action was a grave misuse of terrorism laws. “Placing Palestine Action in the same legal category as ISIS was disproportionate and risked undermining public trust and civil liberties. “This ruling does not place anyone above the law. Any individual members of Palestine Action who are accused of serious offences such as vandalism and violent disorder should be investigated, prosecuted, and, if convicted, sentenced accordingly. But these are potential criminal acts and not comparable to the horrors of terrorism.” Read the Lib Dem press release. Calum Miller calls for parliamentary vote before UK enters war with Iran Appearing on Politics Live on 4 March, Calum Miller MP warned that the UK risks becoming complicit in illegal military action if the Government does not clearly define the limits of British involvement in the US-Israeli strikes in Iran. Calum said: “The so-called defensive / offensive separation hasn’t been clearly defined by the Prime Minister… It’s all too easy for that to slide into the UK being complicit in actions that could be illegal. So what we want is the Government to come forward and set out clearly the limits of its authorisation, including how’s it’s going to monitor that, and give parliament a clear sense that there would be a vote before we committed the UK to war.” Watch the full episode. Manuela Perteghella delivers speech on Palestine at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe On 28 January, speaking in a debate at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Manuela Perteghella MP said: “Gaza effectively remains under siege, under occupation, with aid restricted. Starvation continues. Disease spreads. The Israeli Government continues to block essential food, fuel, shelter and medical supplies despite repeated rulings by the International Court of Justice, and has banned many humanitarian organisations from entering the Gaza Strip. “…In the West Bank, settler violence against Palestinian communities is escalating. Land is seized and fragmented, further destroying any hope of a two state-solution. “The United Nations Security Council Resolution fails to address some of the obstacles to securing a long-term peace: the lack of a plan on how to disarm Hamas, the timeline for the IDF’s withdrawal from Gaza, an unwillingness to address the need to roll back the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and a clear road map to a two-state solution is also lacking. And this is the only way to provide the security and dignity which Israelis and Palestinians deserve.” Watch the recording. Liberal Democrat parliamentarians sign letter to Foreign Secretary on Israel’s de facto annexation of the West Bank 13 Liberal Democrat MPs have signed a cross-party letter led by Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the Council for Arab and British Understanding, condemning further Israeli Government measures in the West Bank. The letter highlights how record levels of Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence are leading to mass forced displacement and the ethnic cleansing of entire Palestinian communities. It warns that Israel is moving to cement its de facto annexation of the unlawfully occupied territory through major new legislation and the advancement of its ‘Doomsday’ E1 settlement project, designed to split the West Bank in two and “bury” the possibility of a future Palestinian state. The letter urges the UK Government to implement specific sanctions to compel Israel to uphold international law, including a complete ban on all settlement trade and further sanctions against settlers and settler groups to toughen the measures taken so far. The letter remains open for additional parliamentary signatures. If your MP hasn’t signed, do please encourage them to do so. Parliamentarians who wish to add their name should contact LDFP’s Policy Officer, Lucia Messent, at luciamessent@ldfp.org.uk. Read the full letter.

Parliamentary Debates (03 March) Commons Chamber – Foreign Office Questions Caroline Voaden MP: Last year, the Israeli Government issued nearly 10,000 units of settlement housing tenders, which was more than the combined total of tenders over the previous six years. The extremists in Netanyahu’s Cabinet clearly have the explicit intention of undermining any prospect of a viable Palestinian state, let alone a two-state solution. The Minister said that he condemns the expansion and is considering actions to take, but will he do the right thing now and introduce a full ban on all trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank, to show that this Government are truly committed to pursuing a two-state solution? Watch the debate Read the debate transcript 02 March) House of Lords – Urgent Statement on the Middle East Lord Purvis: My Lords, this is an unlawful war and has an unclear justification, with contradictory messages already from the Trump White House, State Department and Defense Department. The statements from the President today have not added clarity. The Government are right not to have allowed the use of UK assets for offensive use. The US and Israeli Governments’ actions have put UK lives at risk, including our personnel.….Finally, I wish to speak about something that was not referenced in the Statement and that is going on while this conflict is apparent. In the West Bank in Palestine, we see continuing violence and growing concerns over what may be an active annexation. At this time of tension with regard to Iran, what representations are His Majesty’s Government making to the Israeli Government that annexation of the West Bank is contrary to UK policy? It is right that we have recognised the Palestinian state, but there must be a Palestine to recognise. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (24 February) Westminster Hall – Gaza Healthcare System Monica Harding MP: The UK Government must make reliable humanitarian access a top-tier diplomatic objective. The Israeli Government must immediately allow NGOs full access to Gaza and the west bank. The UK Government must co-ordinate with European partners to apply sustained diplomatic pressure on Israel to reverse the ban on aid organisations, and engage with Washington directly, consistently and regularly on the issue. There must be consequences if access continues to be denied, and the UK must act with like-minded partners to establish alternative delivery channels. We should apply co-ordinated pressure for full access across all crossings while scaling up parallel routes to ensure that aid reaches those who need it. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (05 February) House of Lords –  Pensions Schemes Amendment Bill Baroness Janke: Research has found that the Local Government Pension Scheme holds approximately £12.2 billion in companies linked to alleged violations of international law by Israel. This includes investments in firms supplying weapons, surveillance technology and military equipment to the Israeli armed forces, as well as companies engaged in the construction, financing and maintenance of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. These activities have been widely recognised as contributing to war crimes and systems of repression and persecution against Palestinians. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (05 February) Commons Chamber –  Occupied Palestinian Territories: Genocide Risk Assessment Susan Murray MP: The Liberal Democrats are clear that the Israeli Government have committed a genocide in Gaza, and that those responsible must be held to account. Looking forward, we have a responsibility to protect those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Government have been too slow in reacting to events in Palestine and the West Bank. They must step up to their duties under international law by acknowledging the risk of genocide. Andrew George MP: The bottom line is that what has been happening in the Middle East is appalling, and the level of death and destruction has shocked the world. Of course, the horrors of 7 October 2023 were absolutely appalling, but we all need to reflect on the overwhelming response of the Netanyahu regime, which has taken such advantage of the opportunity for retribution. This is not just about the mass murder in Gaza itself but, as Members have said, about the murder of our aid workers, including Cornish aid worker Jim Henderson… I just hope that the Government will stop doing the minimum they can get away with—stop the trading, stop the excusing, stop the support of the Israeli regime—because it is in the interests of the international world order, of the Palestinians and Palestine, and of Israel itself to get this sorted. Al Pinkerton MP: What matters now is accountability on all sides, which is why access to Gaza for journalists and human rights organisations is so fundamentally important… However, accountability in itself is not enough, and that must sharpen our focus on what is required to move beyond the repeated cycles of violence. Only genuine progress towards a two-state solution can deliver lasting security and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis, so the Liberal Democrats call on the Government to rule out ever participating in Trump’s board of peace. Reconstruction must be co-ordinated by the United Nations with the involvement of the Palestinians, who have been excluded from Trump’s proposals. Aid must be allowed in at scale and rapidly. Hamas must be disarmed; there is no place for a genocidal terror group to take part in Palestine’s future. The UK should ban all trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Finally, the UK must deepen its engagement with the Palestinian Authority following the recognition of the state of Palestine. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (04 February) Westminster Hall –  Armed Conflict: Children Monica Harding MP: Save the Children estimates that over 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza, which is one every hour during the two years of war. Of those who are still alive, UNICEF tells us that there is a ton of emptiness and deep sorrow that can be seen in them. Some 39,000 children have been orphaned and 17,000 children are unaccompanied. Children in Gaza often play in areas that are at risk from explosive ordnance, putting them at high risk of injury or death. In turn, that is leading to high rates of disability; many children have had hands and legs amputated. These children are suffering from hunger, disease, displacement and cold. Eight infants have died of hypothermia this winter alone, and over 100 children have been killed since the ceasefire. Some children need urgent medical evacuation, which is simply not happening at scale, while others are growing up with trauma that will shape the rest of their lives. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript

Early Day Motions (11 February) Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank – Tabled by Calum Miller MP and signed by 41 other Lib Dem MPs                                                                        That this House notes with grave concern reports that the Israeli security cabinet has approved measures which would facilitate the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and further erode the basis of the Palestinian state; condemns statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich asserting that the Israeli government will continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state; reaffirms the United Kingdom’s commitment to international law, a just and lasting peace in Israel and Palestine, and a two-state solution; believes that the UK should play a proactive role in promoting peace, justice and accountability in the Middle East; recognises that Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territory violates international law and presents a major obstacle to securing progress towards a two-state solution; further believes that the UK must not be complicit in enabling the sustainability or growth of illegal settlements; and calls upon His Majesty’s Government to introduce legislation prohibiting trade in goods and services between the United Kingdom and illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Written Questions (10 February) Will Forster MP  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her department has made of the adequacy of the Government’s sanctions decisions following United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803. Government response: We keep the impact of all UK sanctions designations under constant review. (24 February) Lord Roberts of Llandundo Question: To ask His Majesty’s Government what support they are offering to assist in the rebuilding of medical facilities in Gaza. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 10 March. (26 February) Tom Morrison MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the healthcare system in Gaza. Government response: Awaiting response: was due for answer by 2 March. (04 March) John Milne MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many export licences covering military training equipment to Israel were extant between 1 January 2025 and 31 September 2025. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 9 March. (02 March) John Milne MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will list ML3 arms export licences to Israel licensing the transfer of bullets extant for August 2025. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 9 March. (02 March) John Milne MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has assessed the risk of diversion for ammunition for civilian use licensed from the UK to Israel, including to settlers in the West Bank. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 9 March.

Latest News Gaza “ceasefire” and governance:  ‘Not again’: Gaza rushes to stockpile amid Iran war, crossing closures – Al Jazeera, 2 March  Gaza fuel running short after Israel closes borders amid Iran war – Reuters, 2 March  Israeli army kills Palestinian child, wounds another in Gaza despite ceasefire – Middle East Monitor, 28 February  US citizens’ support for Israel at historic low over Gaza genocide: Poll – Al Jazeera, 27 February At least six killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza police checkpoints amid looming halt to aid operations – The New Arab, 28 February Aid groups in Gaza and West Bank thrown lifeline as Israel court pauses ban threat – BBC News, 27 February Israeli forces fired 900 bullets at Gaza medical convoy, new report reveals – Al Jazeera, 26 February Israel responsible for two-thirds of record 129 press killings in 2025, says CPJ – The Guardian, 25 February  Gaza child dies waiting for Israeli permission to leave for treatment – BBC News, 23 February Troops for Gaza and money top agenda as Trump’s Board of Peace meets – The Guardian, 19 February Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza, files show – The Guardian, 19 February  Pope Leo rejects Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ invite and backs UN to solve global crises – The Independent, 18 February  West Bank de facto annexation: Senators demand investigation after ninth American killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in West Bank – The Guardian, 5 March Under cover of Iran war, Israeli settlers terrorise Palestinian communities – Al Jazeera, 5 March As the War on Iran Spirals On, Israel Further Blocks Movement Within West Bank – Truthout, 5 March Yair Lapid backs ‘biblical’ borders for Israel – Middle East Eye, 24 February  Israeli settlers attack West Bank mosque, local officials and army say – France 24, 23 February Israel designates five Palestinian news outlets as ‘terrorist’ groups – Al Jazeera, 23 February  Family of Palestinian-American man killed in West Bank demand accountability – BBC News, 21 February  Israeli minister calls for West Bank annexation, scrapping Oslo Accords – AA News, 18 February Palestinians say new Israeli measures in West Bank amount to de facto annexation – BBC News, 10 February  Israeli minister calls West Bank measures ‘de facto sovereignty,’ says no future Palestinian state – AP News, 10 February Israeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank – Al Jazeera, 8 February  International & UK response:  US citizens’ support for Israel at historic low over Gaza genocide: Poll – Al Jazeera, 27 February  US to provide consular services in illegal Israeli settlement – Al Jazeera, 24 February  Arab League and 19 countries condemn Israel’s ‘de facto annexation’ of West Bank – Middle East Eye, 24 February  US envoy Mike Huckabee says it would be ‘fine’ if Israel took all Middle East land – The Guardian, 20 February UK at UN warns over Gaza ceasefire violations undermining US-backed deal – AA News, 19 February Over 80 UN members condemn Israeli acts to expand ‘unlawful presence’ in occupied West Bank – AA News, 17 February UK Palestine Action ban ruled unlawful, in humiliating blow for ministers – The Guardian, 13 February ‘A step in the wrong direction’: Israel’s West Bank plans prompt global backlash – The Guardian, 11 February Tear gas and pepper spray used on protesters opposing Israeli president’s visit to Australia – Sky News, 9 February

Publications Israeli Executions of Palestinian Aid Workers and Efforts to Conceal Evidence: Tel al – Sultan, Gaza Strip  23 March 2025 –  Earshot and Forensic Architecture, 23 February  This report reveals that Israeli soldiers fired over 900 bullets at a convoy of Palestinian aid workers near Rafah in March 2025, killing 15 medics in an incident now known as the Rafah paramedic massacre. Investigators say the evidence reveals the cover-up of a war crime.  Record 129 press members killed worldwide in 2025; Israel responsible for 2/3 of deaths – Special Report of the Committee to Project Journalists (CPJ), 25 February  In this report, the CPJ reveals that Israel was responsible for two-thirds of all journalist and media worker killings worldwide in 2025, driving the total number killed last year to a record 129 – the highest ever number documented by the CPJ since it began keeping records more than three decades ago.