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. The bulletin is sent to a mailing list of Lib Dem members who have expressed interest in our work. We encourage those who are not already members of LDFP itself to consider joining. Details are available here. LDV Articles The objections to recognising Palestine as a state – 31 July 2025, Lib Dem Voice LDFP member and former Chair John McHugo dismantles legal, moral, and political objections to recognising Palestine. He argues that recognition is clearly justified under international law, refutes claims it would “reward terror,” and dismisses fears of disillusionment. Crucially, he shows that recognition would have real consequences – compelling the UK to uphold Palestinian sovereignty in trade and agreements, and sending a clear warning to Israeli settlers that their presence violates international norms. Rebuilding Gaza: Britain must lead with action, not just recognition – 30 July 2025, Lib Dem Voice In this article, LDFP member and Scottish Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Tanvir Ahmad calls for UK recognition of Palestine to be matched with bold action, including a Gaza reconstruction plan, UN peacekeeping deployment, support for free and fair elections, and sustained investment in a just and lasting peace. A year after the ICJ ruling, the UK is still complicit in Israel’s unlawful occupation – 18 July 2025, Lib Dem Voice LDFP’s Policy Officer Lucia Messent reflects on the UK Government’s ongoing complicity in Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory, one year after the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the unlawfulness of the occupation. She highlights how continued arms exports and trade with illegal settlements place the UK in violation of its obligations under international law.  LDFP Statement on the Proscription of Palestine Action The Liberal Democrats are the party of civil liberties. We oppose government overreach and seek to defend the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The UK Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation poses a grave threat to these fundamental rights and represents a dangerous expansion of counterterrorism powers.On 4th July, LDFP issued a statement condemning the proscription and urging Liberal Democrat MPs to actively oppose it.  Read the full statement. UK Recognition of Palestine: A Step Forward — But it Must be Immediate and Unconditional This week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution.LDFP welcomes the prospect of recognition, which would be a long-overdue step towards equality, justice, and an end to the unlawful occupation. As the former colonial power that issued the Balfour Declaration, the UK bears a particular responsibility to address the decades-long denial of Palestinian rights and support a just and lasting peace.However, recognition must not be used as a bargaining chip. The right to self-determination is inalienable and should not be made conditional on political developments. The UK should recognise Palestine immediately and unconditionally, while also taking concrete steps to address the daily atrocities being committed by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank. The Liberal Democrats have campaigned long and hard for UK recognition of Palestine. In response to this week’s announcement, Liberal Democrat MPs wrote to the Prime Minister calling for: 1) Immediate and unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state; 2) Pressure on Israel to fully reopen aid routes into Gaza; and 3) Action to secure the release of all remaining hostages. Read the full letter. Twickenham & Richmond Fundraiser for Save the Children’s Gaza Appeal On 9 July, Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats held a successful fundraiser in support of the Save the Children Gaza Appeal, with involvement from LDFP members Alan Juriansz, Janet McArthur, and Nailah Sharif. The event, which included a selection of Middle Eastern food kindly provided by the PSC, was well attended and raised £2,377 for humanitarian relief in Gaza.We encourage LDFP members to organise similar initiatives within their local parties. If you’re considering organising an event, we’d be happy to provide resources and guidance to support you. Feel free to reach out to contact@ldfp.org.uk for more information.  Join us at conference! Autumn conference  LDFP will be at the Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference in Bournemouth, 20–23 September. We have an exciting programme of events and hope to see many of you there: – Saturday 20 September, 7.45pm: Fringe meeting at the Bournemouth International Centre, Avon Room. Organised by Cllr Zuffar Haq (Leicester) in partnership with LDFP, with guest speaker Arwa Damon (former CNN News Anchor). – Sunday 21 September, 7.45pm: LDFP panel event at the Bournemouth International Centre, Meyrick Suite, with Dr. Husam Zomlot (Head of Palestinian Mission to the UK), Daniel Levy (President, U.S./Middle East Project & former Israeli government peace negotiator), Tayab Ali (Director, International Centre of Justice for Palestinians) and Ben Jamal (Director, Palestine Solidarity Campaign). – Monday 22 September, 5.30pm: Joint evening reception hosted by LDFP and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians at the Nici Hotel (5 minutes from the conference centre). Further details to be circulated closer to the time. We’ll also have our usual stall in the exhibition centre, sharing resources and raising awareness about the situation in Palestine and LDFP’s work. We welcome volunteers from our membership to help run the stall. If you’re interested, please get in touch at info@ldfp.org.uk. A motion on Palestine that we submitted for debate at the Conference was rejected by the Federal Conference Committee. This was a disappointment, especially as the FCC didn’t even put our emergency motion at the Spring Conference to a ballot of delegates! However, we still hope that there will be a topical or emergency motion for debate and are pressing hard for that. Other conferences LDFP will be represented at the Young Liberals Conference in Cambridge from 16-17 August, where there will be a motion debated on Palestine which we helped to develop. We will also be hosting a panel discussion with Will Forster MP, Raphael Korber Hoffman (Yachad), and Marwan Yaghi (Deputy to the Palestinian Ambassador). The event will take place at 2pm on the Sunday (17th August). We also hope to have a presence at the upcoming Scottish and Welsh party conferences, as well as regional conferences in England this autumn.  If you live in these areas and are willing to help with organisation or running a stall, please reach out to contact@ldfp.org.uk. Saturday 9 August: National Demonstration for Palestine The next national demonstration for Palestine will take place on Saturday 9th August at 12 noon in Central London (exact route TBC). We hope to see as many of you there as possible. Now more than ever, a strong Liberal Democrat presence is vital to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to peace, justice, accountability, and freedom for Palestine.  For details on where to meet on the day, or to join our march coordination WhatsApp group, email info@ldfp.org.uk. Parliamentary Round Up Parliamentary and political activity on Palestine has remained high this month against the backdrop of deepening famine in Gaza, Israel’s continued bombardment of the civilian population, and the acceleration of plans for illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank. The Government’s response remains deeply inadequate, with empty statements of concern undermined by its refusal to impose a full arms embargo, apply meaningful sanctions, or recognise a Palestinian state immediately and unconditionally.Liberal Democrat parliamentarians have kept up sustained pressure in Parliament, challenging ministers and calling for concrete action to help end Israel’s atrocities. This has been matched by a welcome increase in public statements from the party leadership, helping to keep Palestine firmly on the political agenda as we head into the summer recess. Here are the highlights:  Leadership Statements On 29th July, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called for the Attorney General Lord Hermer to publish his legal advice to the Government, saying: “There can be no denying that Israel has egregiously breached international law through its devastating blockade of Gaza. The Australian Prime Minister said this two days ago. And yet the UK Government continues to drag its feet on describing these acts as anything more than merely “risking” a breach. Actions speak louder than words. It’s time for the Attorney General to publish the legal advice he has given to the Government on the Netanyahu cabinet’s grotesque restriction of aid to Gazans.” Read the Lib Dem press release. On 25th July, Ed Davey wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to work with President Trump to bring an end to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza ahead of the US President’s visit to the UK last weekend. The letter emphasised that Starmer has a “crucial window” to persuade President Trump to take decisive action to end the conflict in Gaza. It urged Starmer to push for a joint UK-US Resolution to the United Nations Security Council, including calls for an immediate ceasefire alongside the reopening of UN-administered humanitarian corridors into the Strip. Read the letter. On 22nd July, Ed Davey called on the government to urgently bring in tougher sanctions on the Israeli Government and officials amid a brutal new ground offensive in Gaza, including sanctioning Netanyahu and IDF generals.“We cannot sit idly by while the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip worsens even further. That’s why Keir Starmer must seize the opportunity of Trump’s visit with both hands – and push him to agree to a joint UN Security Council Resolution for an immediate ceasefire and comprehensive lifting of the aid blockade,” he said.  Read the Lib Dem press release.  Parliamentary debates (21 July) Commons Chamber – Middle East Calum Miller MP: “I have written to the Foreign Secretary frequently to set out the many more steps that Liberal Democrats believe he should take, so I will simply ask him this. Does he truly believe that his Government are doing all they can to put an end to the terrible violence and starvation being visited on Gaza in clear contravention of international law? Can he explain why there have been so few consequences since he and the Under-Secretary of State spoke so powerfully in the last two months? And can he dispel the widespread view that he is not setting the policy he would choose, but that he is instead being reined in by No. 10’s desire not to upset President Trump by acting more boldly?” Carolline Voaden MP: “Every day we see more and more reports of children being killed in cold blood while they queue for food. The horror cannot get any worse. Prime Minister Netanyahu has already rejected the statement signed by 31 countries—it did not take him long—and it is clear that he is not interested in stopping this horrific offensive. The time for words is over. The House wants to see action, with widespread sanctions, an end to all arms sales and recognition of Palestine as a state. Netanyahu deserves nothing less, and he might actually take notice if we take action. Will the Foreign Secretary consider taking more action to bring this horrific offensive to an end?” Cameron Thomas MP: “Since 2023, the Israel Defence Forces have killed a record number of journalists and killed a record number of humanitarian workers. They continually murder starving children as they queue for aid. An Israeli soldier outed his commanders for their illegal orders to arbitrarily kill civilians. That is not a sequence of coincidences, but war crime after war crime and a clear message to the world: do not intervene and do not observe what we are doing to the Palestinians.” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (16 July) Commons Chamber – PMQs Ed Davey MP: “Tthe world is looking on in horror at the scenes from Gaza, and now Netanyahu’s Ministers want to lock the whole population of Gaza into what is effectively a giant prison—a plan that would clearly amount to ethnic cleansing, as former Israeli Prime Minister Olmert has said. Does the Prime Minister agree that that is utterly abhorrent and unacceptable? Will he make it clear to the Israeli Government that the UK will not stand idly by and will act, starting by sanctioning Prime Minister Netanyahu himself?” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (03 July) House of Lords –  Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order Baroness Doocey: “That question of proportionality should be at the forefront of our minds today. I do not believe that the test of proportionality has been met…Proscription, as the noble Lord, Lord Anderson, rightly pointed out, would mean that merely expressing approval for Palestine Action, even via an ill-judged retweet, could carry a 14-year prison sentence.” Watch on Parliament TVRead the Hansard transcript (02 July) Commons Chamber –Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism  Lisa Smart MP: “The question we face is not whether or not these people have committed crimes, but whether someone who merely expresses support for them should face up to 14 years in jail. The bar for which groups should be proscribed as terrorist organisations is rightly set very high. It is crucial that the reasons for these decisions are transparent to maintain the public’s trust in our counter-terrorism framework.” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (02 July) Westminster Hall Debate –  West Bank: Forced displacement Monica Harding MP:“Almost one year after that 2024 ICJ ruling was issued, the Government still have not provided a formal response. Can the Minister tell us when, finally, we can expect it? In the interim, what steps have the Government taken to meet their obligations to support Palestinian self-determination as outlined in the ICJ advisory ruling? The Liberal Democrats’ position is iron-clad: we want the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state and a halt to the settlement activity in the west bank.” Brian Mathew MP:“ My hon. Friend will remember that on our trip to the west bank late last year, some of us witnessed a girls’ school that had been tear-gassed just the day before; in fact, it still had smouldering shells in the roof. Does she agree that UNRWA schools and their children must be protected?” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript Written Questions (21 July)  Lord Roberts of Llandudno – Gaza: Churches Question: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of churches in Gaza that have been attacked in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024. Government response: Due for answer in by 4 August 2025. (22 July) Lisa Smart MP – Palestine Action Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has provided guidance to police forces following the proscription of Palestine Action on the policing of protests. Government response: Due for answer in 32 days by 1 September 2025. (15 July) Martin Wrigley MP – Gaza: Humanitarian Aid Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the drone attack on the vessel Conscience in international waters. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 17 July 2025. (14 July) Luke Taylor MP – Gaza: Health Services Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent the destruction of (a) hospitals and (b) medical facilities in the Gaza Strip. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 16 July 2025. (15 July) Susan Murray MP– Husam Abu Safiya  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent decisions with his Israeli counterpart on the extension of the internment of Dr Abu Safiya. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 17 July 2025. (14 July) Luke Taylor MP – Israel: Palestinians Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Israel on the forced transfer of Palestinian residents from Masafer Yatta. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 16 July 2025. (04 July) Angus MacDonald MP – Gaza: Humanitarian Aid Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterparts on reports of Israeli soldiers opening fire on civilians accessing aid distribution centres in Gaza. Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 24 June 2025. (04 July) Calum Miller MP – Gaza: Humanitarian Aid Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on reports of deaths of civilians queuing for food at Gaza Humanitarian Fund distribution centres. Government response: Reports of mass casualty incidents at and near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are horrifying. Over 600 people have been killed since the GHF began operations.We regularly engage with Israeli counterparts to urge them to improve the situation on the ground. On 22 June the Foreign Secretary spoke to Minister of Foreign Affairs Sa’ar to express his horror at the mass casualty incidents at GHF sites. He stressed the need to deliver aid at pace and scale. Humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. The UN and trusted partners must be able to operate in line with humanitarian principles and deliver lifesaving aid. Working closely with the US and our allies, we will continue to support calls for a lasting ceasefire that can end the war, ensure the release of all hostages and a surge of aid into Gaza. (02 July) Mike Martin MP – Origin Marking: Occupied Territories Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 63473 on Origin Marking: Occupied Territories, how many compliance checks HMRC undertook to identify whether goods labelled as originating from Israel were produced in Israeli settlements located in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2024; and how many of those checks identified (a) non-compliance and (b) the mislabelling of goods. Government response: The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law, and that goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. HMRC takes a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to tariff enforcement and routinely checks the accuracy of customs declarations. Such checks include checking material particulars such as the declared origin, value and classification of goods. Checks are conducted where risk analysis or intelligence indicates potential non-compliance, and in cases where there is a risk of customs duty under-declaration. HMRC does not publish details of numbers of checks in relation to specific countries of origin or the outcomes of those checks. However, HMRC confirms that regular and proportionate checks are carried out on Israeli goods in which they are subject to verification to check their originating status. Early Day Motions (15 July) EDM 13683 UK-based medical charities in Palestine – Tabled by Layla Moran MP and sponsored by MPs Jeremy Cornyn, Wera Hobhouse, Tom Morrison, Helen Maguire and Neil Duncan-Jordan. That this House expresses its appreciation for those working for UK-based medical charities in Palestine, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, Glia, Doctors Without Borders and the British Red Cross; commends volunteers for these charities, whose Palestine-based staff take huge personal risks to provide medical aid so crucial to a Gazan healthcare system devastated by Israel’s bombardment and the blockade, including emergency response teams working in Gaza who have been able to get essential medicines to hospitals when they have run out, save hundreds of lives, and train Palestinian medical staff and volunteers; and further commends them for giving so that others may heal, sacrificing safety and comfort to bring life-saving care where it’s needed most. Latest News Photo by hosnysalah, a Palestinian photographer currently living in the Gaza Strip. Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario of famine unfolding in Gaza,’ declares global hunger monitor  –  Middle East Monitor, 29 July Seven more malnutrition deaths reported in Gaza, as Hamas-run health ministry says 104 killed in 24 hours – BBC News, 29 July Israeli NGOs say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza – DW News, 28 July Trump and Netanyahu appear to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas _ The Independent, 25 July Over 1,000 aid-seekers killed in Gaza since May, UN human rights office says– Euro News, 22 JulyI srael launches air and ground offensive on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza – The Guardian, 21 July  Israel levelling thousands of Gaza civilian buildings in controlled demolitions – BBC News, 18 JulyIsraeli soldier describes arbitrary killing of civilians in Gaza – Sky News, 7 July Israeli plan for forced transfer of Gaza’s population ‘a blueprint for crimes against humanity’ – The Guardian,  7 July Shock and grief’ as senior doctor killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza – The Guardian, 2 July West Bank: Palestinians in West Bank village face new crisis as settlers cut off water – Reuters, 28 July Palestinian activist who worked on Oscar-winning film killed in West Bank – CNN World, 29 July New attack on West Bank Christian village of Taibeh – Vatican News, 28 July American beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the West Bank – NBC News, 12 July After 20-year fight, Israel to expel Masafer Yatta Palestinians from homes – Al Jazeera, 10 July ‘Ghost camp’: Israeli operations in West Bank push wave of Palestinians from their homes – Reuters, 10 July A new Israeli tunnel project will divide the West Bank in two – The New Arab, 7 July UK response:  UK court rules Palestine Action may challenge ‘antiterrorism’ ban – Al Jazeera, 30 July  UK to recognise Palestinian state unless Israel meets conditions – BBC News, 29 July 220 MPs call for Starmer to recognise Palestinian state – BBC News, 25 July UK to evacuate children who need urgent medical aid in Gaza – Middle East Monitor, 26 July UK and 27 other nations condemn Israel over ‘inhumane killing’ of Gaza civilians seeking aid – BBC News, 21 July UK MPs vote to proscribe Palestine Action as terrorist group – The Guardian, 2 July International response:  US State Department sanctions Palestinian Authority for ‘undermining peace’– Al Jazeera, 31 July EU and Arab League reaffirm support for two-state solution, urge Hamas to disarm – Euro News, 30 July Canada follows France and UK with plan to recognise Palestinian state – BBC News 30 July  ‘Really cautious’: why the ICJ is delaying a Gaza genocide verdict – The Guardian, 27 July  France will recognise Palestinian state, Macron says – BBC News, 24 July  US sanctions UN rights expert for Palestinian territories – France 24, 9 July New Publications   Our Genocide – B’Tselem, 28th July 2025 Destruction of conditions of life: A health analysis of the Gaza genocide– Physicians for Human Rights Israel, 28 July 2025 Israel-Palestine conflict: First Report of Session 2024–25 – Foreign Affairs Committee, 21 July 2025 Video of the Month  Gaza: Doctors under Attack – Channel 4 News, 2 July 2025 This important documentary provides compelling evidence that Israel has systematically targeted Gaza’s healthcare system through deliberate attacks on medical facilities, and the killing, imprisonment, and torture of healthcare workers. Notably, although the documentary was commissioned by the BBC, they then declined to broadcast it and Channel 4 acquired it instead.