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 a recap of LDFP’s May activities, with details of this month’s parliamentary briefings, a round-up of articles and opinion pieces by committee members, and a recent letter on Brits in the IDF signed by LDFP’s Chair and Honorary President. We also cover this month’s Liberal Democrat Party activity on Palestine, as well as latest news and opinion pieces relating to the current situation in Palestine and the UK’s response.

LDFP May Recap Parliamentary briefings Al Haq director briefs Lib Dem parliamentarians On 1 June, Liberal Democrats parliamentarians were briefed by Shawan Jabarin, General Director of leading Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq. The briefing examined the current legal and human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and explored whether the UK is doing enough to avoid aiding or assisting unlawful occupation and apartheid, prevent corporate complicity, and uphold its obligations under international law. The session was hosted by Baroness Hussein-Ece, Honorary President of LDFP. Parliamentary briefing on Israel’s use of administrative detention against Palestinians On 20 May, Liberal Democrat parliamentarians were briefed on Israel’s widespread and systematic use of administrative detention against Palestinians and abuse and ill-treatment of Palestinians in its custody. The session brought together legal and human rights experts to examine the situation of Palestinian administrative detainees, with a particular focus on child and medical detainees as well as the international legal framework relating to arbitrary detention. Speakers included Dr James Smith, an emergency doctor who has repeatedly served in Gaza, Dania Abul Haj, Senior Legal Officer at the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, and representatives from Save the Children UK. The session was hosted by Susan Murray MP. Op-eds and Lib Dem Voice articles  Sexual abuse of Palestinians should force a reckoning for the British Government – Anne-Marie Simpson in Declassified, 18 May  LDFP Chair Anne-Marie Simpson discusses the findings of a recent West Bank Protection Consortium report documenting gendered and sexualised violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Anne-Marie argues that these abuses, often carried out in the presence of – or with active participation from – Israeli forces, are part of a broader coercive environment intended to make life untenable for Palestinians and drive them from their homes and communities. She calls on the UK government to use every lever available to press for an end to these violations, support international accountability mechanisms, and ensure Britain is not contributing to further abuses. Urgent Call to Action by Lib Dem MPs on Palestine – John Kelly in LDV, 31 May  In the context of Israel’s advancing E1 settlement project and accelerating de facto annexation of the West Bank, LDFP Secretary John Kelly calls for urgent action from Lib Dem MPs to protect the viability of the Palestinian state we have long advocated for. With increasing pressure inside Labour (including in the growing campaign to replace Keir Starmer as PM) and mounting international concern about developments on the ground, the article suggests this is one of the few moments where sustained Liberal Democrat parliamentary pressure could realistically force movement from a government that has so far been reluctant to act. In that context, John argues that now is the moment to intensify pressure around issues such as banning settlement trade and sanctions for businesses that bid for contracts relating to settlement construction. Marching for Palestinian rights – and our own– Judi Conner in LDV, 22 May  LDFP Committee Member Judi Conner examines the political controversy surrounding a recent Palestine solidarity march in London, arguing that claims about the nature of the protest were entirely at odds with the experience of those in attendance. The article raises broader concerns about freedom of assembly and the government’s increasingly restrictive approach to protest rights. In that context, Judi calls on Liberal Democrats to be even more vocal in defending civil liberties and the right to peaceful protest. Our messaging on Palestine did not cut through – Imad Ahmed in LDV, 18 May LDFP Committee Member and recently elected councillor Imad Ahmed reflects on the local election results, arguing that the Greens’ visible position on progressive issues like Palestine has helped them connect with disaffected Labour voters, particularly in urban areas, university towns, and communities with large Muslim populations. While noting that the Liberal Democrats already hold strong policy positions on Palestine, Imad argues that these are not being communicated effectively to voters and calls on the Party to be bolder and more consistent in articulating its values-based commitment to Palestinian rights and international law. I’m ex-police. Banning Palestine marches is wrong – Nailah Sharif in Declassified, 7 May  Retired Met detective and LDFP Committee Member Nailah Sharif argues against proposals to ban Palestine solidarity marches in London, describing the marches as consistently peaceful and inclusive and criticising senior police suggestions linking the protests to rising antisemitism. Nailah raises concerns about consistency in public order policing, particularly the differential treatment of Palestine protests compared with the recent far-right protest, and calls for the police to focus on facilitating lawful protest and avoiding political characterisations of demonstrators. Letter on Brits in the IDF LDFP’s Chair, Anne-Marie Simpson, and Honorary President, Baroness Hussein-Ece, have signed a recent letter demanding the end of impunity for British nationals who fought for Israel in Gaza. Coordinated by Declassified and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, and signed by over 60 prominent figures, the letter calls on the UK government to:  – Track the movements of Brits who have served in the IDF; – Subject them to secondary screening where necessary at ports of entry; and – Support robust war crimes investigations in line with domestic and international law. Learn more. Help Two Gaza Families Rebuild Their Lives in London Members may wish to donate to a fundraising campaign by two Palestinian fathers studying in the UK who are trying to bring their families from Gaza to safety and help them rebuild their lives after years of displacement, and insecurity and loss. The campaign is raising funds to help with accommodation, basic living expenses, and support for young children adjusting to a new life.  Support the campaign.

Lib Dem Activity on Israel – Palestine Calum Miller writes to Foreign Secretary demanding action on E1 settlement construction On 28 May, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller wrote to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calling for urgent action to address Israel’s advancing E1 settlement project, which would sever East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, making the territorial continuity necessary for a future Palestinian state virtually impossible. With tenders for E1 construction contracts having been issued this month, the letter calls for a package of sanctions, including fines, for any UK firms that bid for tenders relating to settlement construction in the E1 area or elsewhere in Palestine. It also reiterates the Liberal Democrats’ longstanding call for a ban on all trade in goods and services with Israel’s illegal settlements. Read the letter. Layla Moran discusses West Bank settlements, Israeli politics and Britain’s historical obligations towards Palestine On 22 May, speaking on the Quiet Riot Podcast, British Palestinian and Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran discussed the current situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and the need for a stronger response from the UK Government. Layla expressed concern about Israel’s E1 settlement project, arguing that it poses a serious threat to the viability of a future two-state solution, and reiterated calls for a UK ban on trade with Israeli settlements. Reflecting on Israeli politics, Layla expressed scepticism that upcoming elections would lead to significant changes in Israeli policy towards the occupation, although she suggested that a government led by the anti-Netanyahu coalition may be more receptive to international pressure. Layla also discussed a campaign she is supporting, Britain Owes Palestine, which calls for the UK to issue a formal apology for its illegal actions during the British Mandate in Palestine, arguing that Britain should acknowledge the historical injustices of the period and their continuing impact on Palestinians today. Listen to the podcast. Lib Dem MPs write to Foreign Secretary over safety of British Gaza flotilla activists On 19 May, Liberal Democrat MPs Ben Maguire and Mike Martin wrote to the Foreign Secretary raising urgent concerns about the safety of British nationals aboard the Global Sumud flotilla. This includes two of their constituents who were intercepted and detained in international waters. The letter calls on the Government to confirm what measures are in place to protect British nationals abroad the flotilla, and requests confirmation of whether the Government has raised their situation with the Israeli authorities and sought assurance that all flotilla passengers will be protected from harm. The letter follows a video published by Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, showing Israeli security forces abusing international activists who were detained after Israeli intercepted their flotilla. Three activists were taken to hospital as result of Israeli violence, and there have been well-documented complaints of torture and sexual assault. Read the letter. Parliamentary Debates (3 June) Commons Chamber – Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces Operations  Monica Harding MP: Under direction from the Israeli Security Cabinet, the IDF is expanding its illegal military operations in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces occupy more territory in Lebanon now than at any point since the start of the century. Hundreds of shattered communities have been left in their wake, with more than 3,000 Lebanese killed and 1 million displaced. This looks far too much like the IDF’s operation in Gaza. Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel would expand its control to 70% of that territory, breaching the ceasefire there. There can be no doubt that these actions have breached international law, and they are likely to constitute war crimes. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (21 May) House of Lords – King’s Speech Lord Hussain: In Gaza and Israel, the conduct of hostilities since October 2023 has generated credible allegations of serious violations of international human rights law, including crimes against humanity and genocide. The Security Council resolutions have called for ceasefires and humanitarian access. The problem remains compliance. Baroness Northover: I welcome the Government’s recognition of Palestine, to which the Minister referred; I had a Private Member’s Bill on this in the last Session. I hope we have not reached a point of no return in terms of a contiguous Palestinian state alongside Israel. Stability, security and prosperity in the region are desperately needed. Baroness Hussein-Ece: According to the recent Amnesty International report: “Women in Gaza are being denied the conditions needed to live and to give life safely. This … erosion of their rights to health, safety, dignity … is a deliberate act … targeting women and girls. It is also the … consequence of Israel’s calculated … practices of multiple mass displacement, deliberate restrictions on … essential items, as well as humanitarian relief, and … years of relentless bombardment that have devastated Gaza’s health system and decimated entire families.”I would welcome an update on what the Government are doing about that. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (21 May) Commons Chamber – Middle East Statement Monica Harding MP: I was disgusted by the footage of the far-right Minister, Ben-Gvir, degrading detainees from the Global Samud Flotilla. This was after celebrating his birthday with a cake emblazoned with a noose, following the passage of a death penalty law targeting Palestinians. It was right that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office called in the Israeli chargé d’affaires to register our condemnation, but it is far from sufficient.In the West Bank, settler violence and expansion accelerates. At the start of June, tenders will be delivered for the construction in the E1 area, a move that could kill the chance of a contiguous Palestinian state. In Gaza, Israeli forces push forward their yellow line, inch by inch. The entry of aid continues to be impeded by restrictive measures, while the humanitarian catastrophe only worsens and journalists are still blocked from entering. …Across those issues, the Government’s muted response and dysfunction can be summarised in a single example: the decision to cut the FCDO’s unit for the monitoring of international law breaches across Israel and Palestine. Can the Minister set out what steps the Government will take if the E1 project continues? Will the Minister ban all UK trade with illegal settlements, reverse cuts to the FCDO’s monitoring unit and press the Israeli Government to allow journalists access to Gaza so that they can collect what evidence may remain of war crimes committed there? Wendy Chamberlain MP: My constituent Antonis Vradis is a much-valued and loved professor at the University of St Andrews. He is one of a number of British citizens who have been detained by the Israeli authorities in international waters and taken to Israel for processing. I have been in touch with his family, friends, colleagues and students in recent days, who are all deeply concerned about how he will be treated and when he will be released. The video that Members have already referred to seems to confirm their worst fears. Although I am pleased to see reports of those from the Israeli embassy being summoned to meet the FCDO, and I am grateful for confirmation from the Minister on the expected processing and release, were the actual calls of the Sumud flotilla raised in the meeting with the Israeli chargé d’affaires? We need those aid routes reopened and we need aid to come into Gaza under UN oversight. Ben Maguire MP: One of my constituents, Katy Davidson, was on board the Global Sumud Flotilla and has been illegally arrested and likely subjected to the disgusting and degrading treatment that we have all seen. The Israeli Government flout international law after international law against British citizens. Does the Minister agree that it is time to ban all imports from the illegal settlements in the west bank, finally close the shameful arms export loopholes, and enforce a total arms embargo? What more do war criminals like Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and others need to do before this Government act? More inaction will leave this Government firmly on the wrong side of history. Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (20 May) House of Lords – Unite the Kingdom March  Baroness Hussein-Ece: My Lords, at the rally last Saturday led by the convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, some of the hate speech we heard was specifically about Muslims, such as “It’s time for Muslims to leave the country”. Sadly, they are completely focused on attacking the Muslim community. History teaches us where such language can lead. British Muslims helped to build this country and serve it by teaching in schools, while over 89,000 Muslim staff work in our NHS, so I say that this is our country. My question is: why is this disgraceful hate speech and Islamophobia tolerated when it comes to British Muslims, and even defended, when the equivalent aimed at any other group would rightly be met with condemnation, prosecution and political outrage? Watch the debate Read the debate transcript Written Questions (21 May) Brian Mathew MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department’s policies on (a) water management practices between Israel and Palestine and (b) the salinity of Gaza’s aquifers. Government response: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 May in response to Question 1592: The UK remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The destruction of water and hygiene infrastructures has contributed to an increase in severe environmental health hazards across the Gaza strip. Last financial year, the UK provided £81 million of humanitarian and early recovery support to Palestine, including specific funding for water, sanitation and hygiene services. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to fully enable the UN and other humanitarian organisations to deliver essential humanitarian aid, including clean water and essential healthcare. The Foreign Secretary raised concerns about the humanitarian situation when she spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar in April. (19 May) Marie Goldman MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of healthcare facilities in Gaza in receipt of UK aid have been attacked since 7 October 2023. Government response: It is estimated that 90 per cent of all hospitals and primary care facilities have been damaged in Gaza, with less than half now functional and no hospital currently operational in North Gaza. We have consistently urged the Israeli authorities to avoid this appalling damage to healthcare facilities and other civilian infrastructure, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to protect and respect the safety of medical personnel. One of the first acts of this Government was to review and suspend the licensing of relevant arms exports that could be used by the Israel Defence Forces in their campaign in Gaza. The UK has committed over £40 million to support healthcare in Gaza since the start of the conflict. This includes over £26.5 million to support UK-Med’s operations, who have completed over 1 million patient consultations in Gaza. (19 May) Marie Goldman MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer to Question UIN 87730 of 11 November 2025, if her Department will publish a formal response to the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry’s report dated 13th March 2025, into Israel’s systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence since 7 October 2023. Government response: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 15 April 2025 to HL6110: We are deeply concerned by multiple allegations of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces. We are also appalled by reports of sexual violence being perpetrated against hostages. These reports are horrifying. The use of sexual violence in conflict is a breach of international law. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in Israel, and wherever it occurs in the world. The UK has consistently called for all reports, to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors, including during a session of the UN Security Council on 20 March. We have also raised strong concerns around treatment of detainees and International Humanitarian Law compliance with the Government of Israel. (19 May) Wendy Chamberlain MP  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to secure the release of British Nationals detained by Israel as a result of their participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla. Government response: I refer the Hon Member to my statement on 21 May. (See here). (18 May) Charlotte Cane MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will consider suspending all trade between the UK and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Government response: Israel’s illegal settlements and decisions designed to further them are a flagrant violation of international law. We make businesses aware of the UK position to discourage trade with settlements, as outlined in the Overseas Business Risk Guidance. We also continue to consider a wide range of measures in relation to how we respond to the situation in the West Bank. This remains a priority for this Government and we welcome Parliament’s continued engagement on this matter. We will inform the House of any developments in our position. (14 May) John Milne MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will conduct an investigation into whether Watchkeeper drone components are being exported from the UK to Israel to support drone exports to Romania. Government response: Watchkeeper unmanned aerial system (UAS) components are licensed from the UK to Israel solely for the purpose of supporting onward export to a Romanian UAS programme. The Department has published extensive information on our export licences to Israel. This is available here. (14 May) John Milne MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 117035 on Arms Trade: Israel, how many of the five licences referenced are for IDF training; and what equipment is covered by those licences. Government response: As referenced in my answer to Question 117035, all five licences were for IDF/Israeli Government training. The equipment covered by those licences included non-lethal ammunition only used in training and not suitable for operational use, components for body armour, components for military training equipment, and various goods permitted to be exported under an Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL). These exports are in line with the Government’s decision in September 2024 to suspend licences for exports to Israel of equipment that could be used in military operations in Gaza. (13 May) James MacCleary MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the content was of the consignments with UK arms export codes ML10 and ML5 seized by Belgian authorities in Liege on 24 March 2026. Government response:  We do not routinely comment on individual licensing cases for reasons of commercial sensitivity. The UK Strategic Export Control list contains detailed information on items classified under the relevant control list entries, including ML5 and ML10. UK export licences for items which might be used in military operations in Gaza remain suspended, in line with the Business and Trade Secretary’s statement to Parliament on 2 September 2024. Exports of military equipment to Israel must comply with the terms of this suspension, and other relevant UK regulations. Compliance with Belgian transit policies is a matter for Belgian authorities. Early Day Motions (21 May) EDM 188: Protest Rights – Tabled by Max Wilkinson and signed by 24 other LD MPs.  That this House recognises that the right to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly is a cornerstone of a free and democratic society and insists that it must be safeguarded; expresses serious concern over the wide-ranging draconian anti-protest powers introduced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 under the previous Government and the Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduced by the current Government; acknowledges that the police already have the powers they need to stop what goes beyond a peaceful protest; and calls on the Government to repeal the protest-related provisions within these Acts and to reaffirm its commitment to civil liberties and the democratic right to protest. (13 May) EDM 75: Two-state solution in Israel and Palestine – Tabled by Calum Miller and signed by 43 other LD MPs. That this House notes with alarm the deteriorating situation in Gaza, where millions of Palestinians are still in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe following the Israeli Government’s military campaign, and Hamas’ reassertion of control; condemns increasing illegal settler expansion and violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, together with legal measures introduced by the Israeli Government to enable settlement growth; acknowledges the need for clear progress towards democratic reform within the Palestinian Authority (PA), including holding national elections; believes only a two-state solution can deliver the peace, dignity and security which Israelis and Palestinians deserve; recognises that progress towards a two-state solution requires empowering moderates and drawing power away from extremists in both societies; further recognises that there is no place for the Hamas terror group in the future governance of Palestine; urges the Government to work with international partners to develop a multilateral plan for Hamas’ disarmament; further urges the Government to press the Israeli government to allow full aid access to Gaza, and to allow journalists and human rights investigators access to support th e independent collection and preservation of evidence of war crimes; calls on the Government to sanction all violent settlers and their connected entities, as well as members of the Israeli Security Cabinet responsible for approving settlement expansion, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, and to ban all UK trade with illegal settlements; and proposes the Government goes further to push the PA to accelerate democratic reforms, including tackling corruption and guaranteeing freedom of expression.

Latest News Israeli ‘ceasefire’ violations in Gaza:  Death toll since start of Gaza ceasefire nears 1,000 – Middle East Eye, 1 June Gaza: 26 killed over Eid holiday, UN rights investigators report – United Nations, 29 May  Netanyahu orders Israeli army to seize ‘70% of Gaza Strip’, violating ceasefire deal – The Guardian, 28 May Video showing far-right Israeli minister taunting Gaza flotilla activists sparks global outcry – CNN, 21 May Gaza’s water crisis: Families survive on less than 10 litres a day amid Israel’s ongoing genocide – The New Arab, 19 May ‘We’ll return to famine’: Displaced families in Gaza protest World Central Kitchen meal cuts – AA, 19 May Israeli forces board Gaza-bound flotilla near Cyprus, activists say – BBC News, 18 May  ‘It fails under testing, but it’s what we have’: ban forces Palestinians to make their own cement from rubble – The Guardian, 18 May UN calls on Israel to prevent Gaza ‘genocide’ –  Al Jazeera, 18 May  Netanyahu says Israel controls 60 percent of Gaza – Al Jazeera, 18 May  Three community kitchen workers among eight killed by Israel in Gaza – Al Jazeera, 18 May  Israeli attacks on Gaza increased by 35% since Iran ceasefire: Report – Al Jazeera, 18 May  West Bank settlement expansion: Israel plans massive illegal occupied West Bank settlement push – The New Arab, 3 June Palestine urges US to stop Israeli ‘madness’ after new illegal settlement plans in occupied West Bank – Middle East Monitor, 3 June UN experts warn against ‘surging Israeli settler terror’ – as it happened –  The Guardian, 2 June Israel kills Palestinian worker as he climbed West Bank separation wall – Middle East Eye, 31 May  ‘Dangerous colonial occupation’: Israel’s digital West Bank land register – Al Jazeera, 29 May Communities face forced displacement as Israel opens West Bank settlement tenders – The Canary, 28 May Palestinian Authority warns against ‘dangerous’ plan to strip Jordan of Al-Aqsa custodianship – Middle East Eye, 26 May Knesset panel fast-tracks West Bank antiquities bill seen as de facto annexation – The Times of Israel, 19 May Palestinian Children Face Escalating Violence In The West Bank – Forbes, 19 May  UN says distinction between settler, state violence ‘narrowing’ in West Bank – AA, 18 May Schoolchildren flee Israeli raid in occupied West Bank – Al Jazeera, 17 May  Detention of Palestinians in Israeli custody:  UN adds Israel and Russia to blacklist for sexual violence in conflict – The Guardian, 29 May  Israeli law permitting execution of Palestinian prisoners comes into force in West Bank – TRT World, 18 May Israel increasingly using solitary confinement against Palestinian detainees including women, children – The New Arab, 15 May  Israel says it will sue New York Times over article on sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners – The Guardian, 14 May  NYT columnist alleges widespread sexual abuse of Palestinians in Israeli detention system –  AA, 12 May  Israel passes law to allow death penalty and public trials for those linked to 7 October – BBC News, 12 May  International & UK response:  New poll shows overwhelming majority of Labour members support a full arms export ban to Israel, illegal settlement trade ban – Medical Aid for Palestinians, 03 June  UK government has failed Palestinian people, says senior Labour MP – The Guardian, 2 June Mandelson called Wes Streeting’s Israel criticism ‘wild’ and ‘hysterical‘ – Middle East Eye, 1 June France bans Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after ‘unspeakable’ flotilla detainee taunts – AP News, 23 May Western nations warn Israel to end illegal settlement expansion, violence – Al Jazeera, 22 May World Leaders Summon Israeli Envoys Over Ben-Gvir Video Shaming Gaza Flotilla Activists – Haaretz, 21 Ma Yvette Cooper wrote Palestine Action article despite CPS warning it could affect trial – The Guardian, 17 May EU announces sanctions against violent Israeli settlers – The Guardian, 11 May  Protests may need to be stopped in some cases, PM suggests – BBC News, 2 May  Four Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage – The Guardian, 5 May  Israeli elections: Bennett-Lapid’s Together drops seats as Eisenkot makes gains, Likud becomes largest party – poll – The Jerusalem Post, 29 May Israel’s Arab parties push to revive Joint List as persecution grows – The new Arab, 25 May Israeli lawmakers advance bill to dissolve parliament – Al Jazeera, 20 May

Opinion Pieces  For Gaza, Eid joy is now a form of resistance – Ohood Nassar in Al Jazeera, 28 May  Journalist and teacher Ohood Nassa reflects on spending a third consecutive Eid al-Adha displaced in Gaza, where blockade-induced shortages, soaring prices and ongoing Israeli attacks have made traditional celebrations near-impossible. Through an account of Eid interrupted by airstrikes in Gaza City, she argues that for many Palestinians, celebration has become less an expression of normality than a way of preserving dignity, community and continuity amid genocide and displacement. The backlash to revelations of sexual torture of Palestinian prisoners aims to raise the cost of speaking out – Yuli Novak in The Guardian, 14 May Yuli Novak, Executive Director of Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, argues that Israel’s response to recent New York Times reporting detailing the horrific sexual violence inflicted on detainees “seeks to silence those who assert the basic fact of Palestinian humanity.” The article, a summary of which can be viewed here, details accounts from Palestinian women, men, and children of rape and sexual abuse in Israeli military detention. In response, Israel is threatening to sue the New York Times for defamation.  The Nakba Is Not History. It Is The Present –  Dania Abul Haj in Dawn,. 16 May  This article by Palestinian lawyer Dania Abul Haj argues that for Palestinians, the Nakba is not a historical event but a present reality sustained through Israeli policies that continue to dispossess Palestinians, fragment their communities and deny them control over their land and lives. British Palestinians feel ‘gaslit’ and unable to speak out, says leading activist – The Guardian, 16 May Sara Husseini, Director of the British Palestinian Committee, explains how British Palestinians feel increasingly unable to express their grief, identity, or opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza without fear of recrimination or professional repercussions. At the same time, widespread public solidarity through protests and civic action has provided “a source of emotional survival for many.”