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.  Briefing with the Palestinian Ambassador   On Tuesday 10th June, LDFP hosted a briefing for Liberal Democrat MPs and Peers with the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Husam Zomlot. The discussion focused on the current situation in Gaza, the UK’s international legal obligations, and the case for immediate UK recognition of a Palestinian state.  Download the briefing summary. Conference Motion: The future for Palestine and Israel  Ahead of the Lib Dem Autumn Conference, we have submitted a policy motion on Palestine and Israel. The motion reaffirms the Liberal Democrats’ support for a two-state solution and condemns Israel’s ongoing mass starvation, killing and dispossession of the Palestinian population. It goes further than previous party motions by explicitly describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal, citing the ICJ’s findings and the failure of Israel to implement measures to prevent a plausible genocide. The motion criticises the UK’s continued arms sales and military support to Israel and calls for a public inquiry into UK complicity in Israel’s atrocities. It urges immediate recognition of the state of Palestine, a comprehensive ban on trade with illegal settlements, a full ceasefire, prisoner/hostage releases on both sides, and a UN-led peace process.The motion is to be proposed by Andrew George MP and summated by Alistair Carmichael MP. Lib Dem Voice Articles Facing the harrowing facts: it’s time for bold action on Gaza and the West Bank – 26 June 2025, Lib Dem Voice Citing mounting evidence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, including the weaponisation of starvation against children, LDFP committee member Judi Conner urges the Liberal Democrats to take bold, strategic action to end UK complicity in Israel’s atrocities. She calls on the Party to use its platform to force a parliamentary vote on Palestine, leveraging Labour’s internal divisions to pressure the Government into taking decisive action.   UK sanctions on Israeli ministers must be a turning point, not a token gesture – 15 June 2025, Lib Dem Voice LDFP Secretary John Kelly welcomes UK sanctions on Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich but argues they must mark the start of a broader policy shift. He urges the UK Government to uphold international law by extending sanctions to all Israeli ministers implicated in war crimes and by banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Now it’s the Israeli state versus Greta Thunberg – 10 June 2025, Lib Dem Voice LDFP member Andy Daer denounces Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound Madleen flotilla and the detention of its 12 passengers as flagrant breaches of international law. Pointing to Israel’s continued mass killing of civilians in Gaza, he argues that Western governments must end their complicity and impose a full trade embargo to pressure Israel to halt its atrocities.   Gaza: an open letter to Ed Davey – 9 June 2025, Lib Dem Voice In this open letter to Ed Davey, LDFP Chair Anne-Marie urges the Liberal Democrat leadership to take a more visible and decisive stand in response to the atrocities committed by Netanyahu’s Government in Gaza and the accelerating expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. The letter calls for stronger public leadership from the Lib Dems on Palestine, more frequent media interventions, and an urgent meeting to discuss how the Party can turn its principled policies on Palestine into meaningful action. Become a member! With 25 new members joining in the past month alone, Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine is growing – and there’s never been a more critical time to get involved. As the situation in Palestine reaches a tipping point, your voice and support are more important than ever. By becoming a member, you’ll receive regular updates, invitations to our events and meetings, and the chance to stand with us at marches, conferences, and within the party. Join today! Parliamentary Round Up This month, parliamentary activity on Israel-Palestine and the wider Middle East has intensified amid near-daily deadly attacks on Palestinians at Gaza aid distribution sites, escalating settler and military violence in the West Bank, and rising regional tensions linked to Israel’s 12-day war on Iran. While UK sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers marked a limited step forward, the Israel-Iran confrontation risked diverting attention away from Israel’s continued mass killing, starvation and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Liberal Democrat MPs and peers have played a key role in keeping up the pressure, standing up in Parliament to demand comprehensive sanctions, an end to UK military support, and immediate UK recognition of the Palestinian state.  Here are the highlights:  Parliamentary Debates (26 June) Commons Chamber – G7 and NATO Summits Ed Davey MP: “The Prime Minister also spoke about the conflicts and crises in the middle east. He is right to push even harder for a ceasefire in Gaza. People around the world will question whether military action, rather than diplomacy, will actually make us safer in the future. We must redouble our efforts for a just peace in the region, and that must include self-determination for the Palestinian people. Will the Government finally commit to recognising a state for the Palestinians?” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (24 June) House of Lords – Middle East Update Lord Hussain: “My Lords, I welcome the Government’s Statement on the de-escalation of the crisis in Iran, but my heart bleeds for the people of Gaza who are being killed—men, women and children—while trying to collect food and water. According to Reuters, 44 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza on Friday while collecting aid. Can the Minister assure the House that British weapons supplied to Israel are not used to kill innocent men, women and children in Gaza?” Watch on ParliamentTVRead the Hansard transcript (24 June) Commons Chamber –Foreign Office Questions John Milne MP: ”What is happening in Gaza is hard enough to watch, but if we are to prevent the west bank from going the same way in a few years’ time, we must act today. Does the Minister agree that recognising the principle of a Palestinian state, without making any judgment for the moment on its borders, is the strongest and most effective way to reaffirm the UK’s long-standing commitment to a two-state solution, while there is still territory left to form it with?” Wera Hobhouse MP: ”My constituents have watched in horror as Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 400 Palestinians and injured thousands more at aid distribution centres in Gaza. Over the weekend, dozens more Palestinians were killed while trying to access humanitarian aid. Why are the Government still permitting the transfer of F-35 components to Israel through the international pool, knowing that these aircrafts may be used in operations causing mass civilian casualties?”The unusual unsatisfactory answer from Hamish Falconer appears in the Hansard extract below.  Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (16 June) House of Lords –Conflict in the Middle East Baroness Janke:  ”My Lords, the Israeli Government recently approved 22 new settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank—the largest such expansion in decades. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law, yet the Government continue to allow trade with these settlements, contrary to the ICJ’s July 2024 advisory opiniont.” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (10 June) Commons Chamber – Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories Calum Miller MP: ”In the last week, we have seen the product of the extremism advanced by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich: the death of more Palestinians, who were queueing in desperation for food from the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Calls for Palestinian displacement can no longer be tolerated, so will the Government build on today’s progress by urgently considering sanctions on other extremist Ministers who continue to call for the blockade of Gaza and for expanded military action in the strip, starting with Israel Katz?” Brian Mathew MP: ”The killing, the misery, the starvation and the genocide have gone on for far too long. Will the Government do the right thing by recognising the state of Palestine now? For a two-state solution, there must be two states.” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (09 June) House of Lords  –Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories Lord Purvis: ”We are witnessing both the systematic collective punishment and brutalisation of a civilian population combined with the weaponisation of food and medicine. A Government have made a decision to annex land that is not theirs and to put women and children, whose only sin is seeking aid, in the position of being at risk of literally starving to death. These are war crimes.” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (04 June) Commons Chamber –Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories Monica Harding MP: ”As the Minister has acknowledged, Israel’s alternative aid scheme is dangerous, unworkable and profoundly insufficient… You know the Palestinian people’s desperation. You have heard the desperation—The Minister has heard the Palestinian people’s desperation. He has heard the desperation in this Chamber. What new pressure will he bring to bear on Israel to open the aid routes? What is the alternative plan?   Caroline Voaden MP: ”It is clear that the Israeli Government aspire to wipe Palestine off the map, as they expand their settlement ambitions with impunity. They do not care that Ministers in Whitehall are watching their statements. Until Palestine is recognised as a state, the dispossession of land and homes by Israel will continue. Why will the Government not stand up now and, alongside our allies Spain, Norway and Ireland, recognise Palestine as a state?” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript (04 June) Commons Chamber –Prime Minister’s Questions Ed Davey MP: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s remarks about Gaza, because I am sure that all of us are appalled by the latest scenes: starving people desperate for food, water and medicine, met with chaos and violence. The US-Israeli programme is clearly failing and nothing short of lifting the full blockade on aid will do. Given that the Netanyahu Government refuse to do that, will the Prime Minister take more decisive action today? Will he push at the United Nations Security Council for humanitarian corridors to get the desperately needed aid urgently into Gaza?” Watch on ParliamentTV Read the Hansard transcript Written Questions (02 June) Lord Roberts of Llandudno – Gaza: Humanitarian Aid Question: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to apply sanctions in relation to withholding of aid from Gaza. Government response: The UK keeps all options under review in response to the withholding of aid to Gaza. While we do not speculate on future sanctions, as doing so could reduce their effectiveness, we remain committed to upholding international humanitarian law. On 10 June, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions against Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for inciting violence towards Palestinians. On 20 May, we also sanctioned individuals, illegal settler outposts, and organisations supporting violence in the West Bank. These measures demonstrate our readiness to act. We continue to urge Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian access and comply with international humanitarian principles. (03 June) Tim Farron 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 to ensure aid supplies are able to enter Gaza. Government response: The UK remains in close and regular contact with international counterparts to press for increased humanitarian access into Gaza. On 19 May, the UK, Canada, and France issued a joint statement calling on Israel to cease its renewed military offensive and lift restrictions on humanitarian assistance. In parallel, on 20 May, I summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand the immediate, full, and unhindered flow of aid, making the UK’s position unequivocally clear. Alongside international partners, we continue to call for Israel to allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza. (11 June) Andrew George MP – Overseas Trade: Occupied Territories Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what (a) trading rules and (b) tariffs on trade apply between the UK and settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Government response: The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators on how goods from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be labelled. (12 June) Will Forster MP – Israel: Military Aid Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department will stop training Israeli Defence Force personnel following the British Government’s decision to sanction members of the Israeli Government. Government response: The Ministry of Defence keeps under careful consideration its policies on training courses. We currently provide non-combat academic courses to fewer than five IDF personnel. (13 June) 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 Israeli counterpart on the seizure of the UK-flagged civilian ship Madleen by Israeli forces in international waters. Government response: We are aware of the interception of the Madleen and the arrest of its passengers by Israeli Naval Forces. We note that this happened without serious incident or injury to any passenger. We pressed the Israeli authorities in advance of the ship’s arrival to ensure that any action they took would resolve the situation safely, with restraint, and in line with International Law. The UK continues to demand that the Israeli government permits the full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza immediately. By far the most effective way to meet the desperate needs of the Gazan people at the speed and scale that is needed is via overland routes. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is appalling. We reiterate that Israel must immediately allow the UN and other agencies to deliver lifesaving aid to those in Gaza who so desperately need it. (19 June) Martin Wrigley MP – Gaza: Children Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children from Gaza have been granted visas to the UK for medical treatment since the scheme began. Government response: The requested information is not currently available from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. The UK has supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring a small number of children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. On 1 May, the Minister for the Middle East announced that two children have arrived in the UK to begin treatment. The Government also announced a £7.5m package of support to bolster vital medical care in Gaza and the region, which includes additional funding for UK-Med, WHO Egypt and the OCHA OPTs Humanitarian Fund. (20 June) 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. (20 June) Angus MacDonald MP – Palestine: Recognition of States Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria his Department uses to decide when to recognise the state of Palestine.  Government response: Awaiting response: due for answer by 24 June 2025. Early Day Motions (03 June) EDM 1385: Gaza (No.2) – Tabled by Ed Davey MP and signed by all 72 Liberal Democrat MPs That this House expresses its condemnation of the Israeli government’s expansion of military activity in Gaza and declaration of 22 new settlements in the West Bank; denounces Prime Minister Netanyahu’s unwillingness to comprehensively lift the devastating aid blockade; rejects as dangerous, insufficient and unworkable the operation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation; calls on the Government to develop an alternative plan with other countries to take aid into the Strip through a humanitarian corridor, ideally sponsored by the UN; believes that Hamas should immediately and unconditionally release the remaining 58 hostages; notes that military action will not support getting the remaining hostages back to Israel, and that only diplomacy has been the consistently effective tool through which those in Hamas’ captivity have made it home; urges the Government to immediately sanction Ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and Katz, who consistently call for the dispossession of Palestinians, and to immediately ban all UK arms exports to Israel; urges the Government to immediately suspend the 2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations, until the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is alleviated; calls on the Government, in lieu of imminent action by the Israeli government to allow full aid access to Gaza and draw back its military campaign, to expand sanctions to Israeli Ministers and Members of the Knesset who support continuing the blockade and military action; and urges the Government to recognise the state of Palestine, showing beyond doubt the UK’s commitment to Palestinians’ right to self-determination and a two-state solution as the only just, political settlement.  Upcoming Parliamentary Business Wednesday 2 July, 16:30 – 17:30: Westminster Hall Debate: Forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank Wednesday 2 July: Commons Chamber Motion to approve a Statutory Instrument relating to Terrorism (Proscription of Palestine Action) Thursday 17 July, 09:30: Commons Chamber Oral Questions: Department for Business and Trade Top Stories Photo by hosnysalah, a Palestinian photographer currently living in the Gaza Strip. Media bias:  BBC coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza shows ‘pattern of bias’ – report – The National Scot, 16 June BBC coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza ‘systematically biased against Palestinians’ – Middle East Eye, 17 June Gaza:  Israel limits entry of baby formula in Gaza as infants die of hunger – Le Monde, 1 July Malnutrition kills 66 children in Gaza due to Israeli siege – The New Arab, 28 June ‘It’s a Killing Field’: IDF Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Waiting for Humanitarian Aid – Haaretz, 27 June 18 killed in Israeli strike targeting Gaza police distributing flour, officials say – The Guardian, 27 June Israel cuts off aid into northern Gaza for 48 hours – Channel 4 News, 26 June Israel recovers bodies of three hostages from Gaza – BBC News, 22 June Gaza: Over 400 Palestinians killed around private aid hubs, UN rights office says – UN News, 24 June Unicef warns children could die of thirst in Gaza amid collapse of water systems – The Guardian, 20 June Israeli forces intercept Gaza-bound aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg in overnight raid – France 24, 09 June West Bank: Israeli settlers attack army in West Bank village – Middle East Eye, 30 June Israeli settlers, protected by the army, ramp up violence in occupied West Bank – Le Monde, 30 June UN rights office sounds the alarm over forced displacement in the West Bank– UN News, 26 June Israeli forces kill three Palestinians after settlers attack West Bank town – The Guardian, 25 June Israeli authorities tighten grip on the West Bank amid Iran escalation – Doctors Without Borders, 23 June Israeli forces kill young Palestinian, arrest 60 during night raids in West Bank – Arab News, 18 June Israel declares complete lockdown in West Bank, Al-Aqsa mosque closed, after Iran strikes – The New Arab, 13 June UK response:  Judge grants Palestine Action urgent hearing to try to stop ban taking effect – The Guardian, 30 June NGO loses bid to block UK export of F-35 components to Israel amid Gaza genocide – The New Arab, 30 June UK police investigate Glastonbury performers who led pro-Palestine chants – Al Jazeera, 29 June Yvette Cooper vows to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws – The Guardian, 23 June UK defence ministry ‘currently’ training Israeli army personnel – Middle East Eye, 12 June UK sanctions far-right Israeli ministers for ‘inciting violence’ against Palestinians – BBC News, 10 June Exclusive: David Cameron threatened to withdraw UK from ICC over Israel war crimes probe – Middle East Eye, 9 June International response:  Spain slams EU inaction on Israel trade deal – DW, 26 June Weaponisation of food in Gaza constitutes war crime, UN rights office says – Reuters, 24 June EU may take action against Israel if conditions in Gaza do not improve – The Guardian, 23 June Conference on Palestinian Statehood Postponed Amid Israel-Iran Fighting – The New York Times, 14 June US ambassador to Israel says US no longer pursuing goal of independent Palestinian state  – The Guardian, 10 June Mike Martin MP: The Illegality of US and Israeli Strikes on Iran In an interview with Good Morning Britain, Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin makes a powerful case that recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran were illegal, counterproductive, and based on flawed or absent intelligence. He criticises the UK Government’s failure to condemn the attacks, linking this to a broader failure on the part of western governments to uphold and defend international law—a failure that will undermine our credibility and come back to haunt us in future crises. Watch the full segment. New Publications  BBC on Gaza-Israel: One Story: Double Standards – Centre for Media Monitoring, 16 June 2025 Starving a Generation: Israel’s Famine Campaign Targeting Palestinian Children in Gaza – Defence for Children International: Palestine and Doctors Against Genocide, 24 June 2025 From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 – Francesca Albanese, United Nations Human Rights Council, 1 July 2025 Video of the Month  Whilst entire media & political class meltdown over rapper at Glastonbury. Worth reminding ourselves of what the IDF has been up to last 2 years – Double Down News, 28 June