Welcome to the Liberal Democrats Friends of Palestine (LDFP) news bulletin. This bulletin aims to keep you informed about the latest updates related to LDFP and wider party activity on Palestine.  The bulletin is sent to a mailing list of Lib Dems who have expressed interest in our work. We encourage those who are not already members of LDFP to consider joining. Details are available here.

Upcoming Events Annual General Meeting The next Annual General Meeting of LDFP will take place on Tuesday 18 November at 8pm, via Zoom.  The meeting will open with a talk by Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU), followed by a business session including officer reports, elections, and a discussion of priorities for the year ahead. This meeting is for members only, and invitations have been circulated separately. If you’re a member and haven’t received your invitation – or if you’re interesting in joining LDFP – please contact info@ldfp.org.uk. Join us at regional conference  With regional conference season in full swing, we’d like to extend a huge thank you to all our members who’ve volunteered at our stalls so far. We’ll next be at the West Midlands, Western Counties, South East, and East of England conferences on Saturday 15 November. If you’re attending any of these events, do drop by our stall to say hello and catch up with fellow members. And if you’d like to lend a hand on the stand, we’d love to have you join us – even an hour or two makes a real impact. Just get in touch at info@ldfp.org.uk to let us know your availability. National march for Palestine: 29 November, Central London The next national demonstration for Palestine will take place on Saturday 29th November – the Day of International Solidarity with the Palestinian People – at 12 noon in Central London (exact route TBC). We’ll be meeting at a nearby cafe from 11am before marching together under our LDFP banner to demand accountability, an end to occupation, and freedom and self-determination for Palestinians.  For details on where to meet on the day, email info@ldfp.org.uk.

Publication of the Month  “Gaza Genocide: a collective crime” – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 – 20 October 2025 Video of the Month  Inside Israel’s elite military academy accused of extremism – Channel 4 News, 22 October 2025

Lib Dem Activity on Palestine Calum Miller – Gaza peace summit: Starmer must push for expansion of aid and rebuilding of Strip On 12 October, Ahead of the Gaza peace summit in Egypt, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP said:“The Sharm El-Sheikh Summit offers an historic opportunity to build a path to permanent peace. The first step on that path must be to end the suffering in Gaza.”At Monday’s meeting, Keir Starmer must push for the expansion of aid into Gaza and for a Reconstruction and Development summit to begin the work of rebuilding the Strip. He must also support all efforts to ensure that the Hamas terrorists follow through on their pledge to release all the hostages.” The Prime Minister must also put the UK at the centre of the discussions about phase two. This is not a moment for him to be a smiling bystander in the summit family photo. He must work with our allies to bring a lasting end to the cycle of violence, uphold international law and create the conditions for a two-state solution – the only way to deliver the security and dignity which both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.” Read the Lib Dem Press release. Layla Moran – Palestinians must be in the driving seat of their own future On 9 October, in an interview with Jeremy Vine, Layla Moran MP said: “Trump’s original 20-point peace plan involved the Palestinian Authority – who are the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people and who have rejected Hamas over and over again – but Netanyahu rejected the PA being apart of it. “…This is a repeated cycle of trauma and violence that passes down. And if we want this to stop, the key thing that needs to change is that Palestinians need to be in the driving seat of their own destiny, just as the Israelis have throughout.”  Watch the full interview segment

Parliamentary Debates (29 October) Commons Chamber – Gaza and Hamas  Steve Darling MP: “The Minister has already acknowledged that it is olive harvest season in the West Bank—a harvest that supports approximately 100,000 farming Palestinians—yet we have seen more than 150 attacks by settlers against those farmers. How are the Government holding the Israeli Government to account to stop those settlers acting with impunity?” Monica Harding MP: “Renewed violence in Gaza continues against a backdrop of unimaginable human suffering. Millions remain in desperate need of food, water and medical supplies, yet aid convoys continue to face unacceptable obstacles… What specific pressure are the Government exerting on Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli authorities to get the routes fully open and the aid in?” Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (28 October) Commons Chamber –  Oral Questions: Foreign Office Layla Moran MP: “Last week I met Nada, an Oxford plastic surgeon who told me horrific stories of the children she has been treating in Gaza. I believe that the Secretary of State has met her, too. The most concerning thing is that if these wounds do not have care, they will lead to life-changing disabilities. Medics are calling for a humanitarian corridor between Gaza and the west bank so that those Palestinian children can stay in Palestine. What discussions has she had on the matter?” Calum Miller MP: “At this hopeful but fragile moment for Gaza, all sides must fulfil their ceasefire obligations… We must also preserve the conditions for a two-state solution; this Gaza peace plan is not sufficient to deliver a lasting peace between two viable and secure states. Last week, the Knesset voted in favour of annexing the West Bank – a move that would undermine Palestinians’ right to self-determination. The strong criticism from US Secretary of State Rubio was notable and welcome, so will the Foreign Secretary work with the American Administration to bring forward a UN Security Council resolution that unreservedly condemns that vote and reaffirms the illegality of seizing territory by force?” Andrew George MP: “Will the Government go beyond suspending new trade deals and actively review existing trade deals with Israel, including both goods and services originating from the illegal settlements, to ensure that UK trade policy does not undermine the prospect of Palestinian statehood?” Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (16 October) House of Lords – Middle East Lord Purvis: “We need clarity from the Government on what level of support they will provide to the Palestinian Authority, which is likely to be the transitional authority, and what practical measures the UK will be providing…What relationship will the UK have with the emerging stabilisation force? As I saw in the work I carried out in north Iraq after Daesh had occupied Mosul, the UK can play a very important role in restoring education and child trauma support, especially the psychosocial support that is needed. Recovery from the horror must be immediate, intensive and accessible, and the UK can play a direct role in having immediate pop-up education and child trauma centres constructed immediately.“ Baroness Hussein-Ece: “The Rafah crossing is still closed, aid is not getting through and people are still suffering. Medical aid has not got through. There are 20,000 orphan children, at least. What special emphasis will be placed in the discussions on all those children who have nobody, who are orphaned and need special protection?” Watch the debate Read the debate transcript (14 October) Commons Chamber – Middle East Ed Davey MP: “Already today we can see how precarious the situation is, with Israeli forces killing Palestinians who they say crossed the yellow line and both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. The immediate priority must be to ensure that the ceasefire holds, as well as ensuring that lifesaving food, water and medicine reach all those facing starvation and disease. “….A ceasefire is not the same as a lasting peace. Only a two-state solution can deliver that, so I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to finally recognise Palestine last month. What work is he doing with partners to help build a viable Palestinian state that can live peacefully alongside Israel? Has he spoken to President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to make it clear that the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank must stop?” Layla Moran MP: “The ceasefire, the release of the living hostages and the flooding of aid into Gaza is a moment of hope for us all. The Prime Minister has responded to a number of questions on accountability, and he will know the importance of this moment for starting to gather evidence about what has taken place in Gaza—both the atrocities committed by Hamas and the actions of the IDF and the mercenaries working for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation under direction of the Israeli Cabinet. Can the Prime Minister spell out in a little more detail what support the UK Government are giving to those agencies that will gather the evidence that will allow for full accountability in future?” Watch the debate Read the debate transcript

Early Day Motions (13 October) EDM 1980: Safety of British nationals aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla – Sponsored by Susan Murray MP and signed by 13 other Liberal Democrat MPs.     That this House is deeply concerned for the safety of British nationals, including Margaret Pacetta and Malcolm Ducker, currently aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza; notes that previous aid flotillas have been boarded and passengers detained; is alarmed by reports of further threats against the current mission; and calls on the Government urgently to confirm what steps are being taken to safeguard those on board, to raise their protection with Israeli authorities and to ensure that the food, medicine, and aid reach the population remaining in Gaza.

Written Questions (10 October) Helen Maguire MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure aid air drops are carried out safely to avoid unintentional harm.Government response: In the last few years, the UK has been involved in a limited number of aid air drops operations, specifically into Gaza. The latest effort in July 2025 was led by Jordan where up to £500,000 of humanitarian aid was procured by the UK and placed onto Royal Jordanian Air Force aircrafts. In line with humanitarian principles, we assess all delivery methods to minimise unintended consequences and ensure aid does not exacerbate existing vulnerabilities or tensions. We have been clear from the start that whilst airdrops into Gaza would have helped to alleviate the worst of the suffering, land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid at scale. (10 October) Helen Maguire MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Israeli counterpart on increasing the number of evacuation days for (a) recipients of the Chevening Scholarship and their dependents and (b) medically vulnerable children and their dependents to the UK. Government response: We continue to work with international partners to facilitate departures from Gaza where possible, and the Foreign Secretary most recently spoke to her Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on 18 October about the importance of opening more crossings. (10 October) Manuela Perteghella MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that her policies are consistent with the UK’s obligations under the Genocide Convention in the context of the findings of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, published in September 2025. Government response: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 September to Question 72500 (view here). (10 October) Freddie van Mierlo MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the BBC Board on the UK’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in the context of Israel’s participation. Government response: The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government. Therefore, the Government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations including on editorial matters. Decisions on who to include in international events and competitions are for the organisers to take, within the framework of their own rules and regulations. It is for the EBU, in consultation with its members, to decide which countries are allowed to participate in Eurovision. (13 October) Baroness Sheehan Question: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of ill-treatment, including physical abuse and poor detention conditions, of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. Government response: Throughout the conflict, the UK regularly raised our concerns about Palestinian children in detention with the Israeli authorities. We continue to call on Israel to immediately facilitate urgent, unhindered access to all child detainees from the West Bank and Gaza to persons providing legal assistance, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and appropriate experts for the purposes of monitoring and reporting. (15 October) Susan Murray MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what logistical or operational support RAF aircraft (a) are providing to Israel and (b) has provided over the last year. Government response: The RAF is not providing logistical or operational support to Israel. Over the last year, the RAF has not provided logistical support to Israel, however, following the terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023, the UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who were kidnapped. In support of these efforts, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) conducted surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza from December 2023. Following the agreement of the Gaza peace plan between Israel and Hamas, and the release of all remaining live hostages, the MOD ceased surveillance flights over Gaza. The last flight took place on 10 October 2025.You will understand that we will not comment further on detail relating to intelligence matters to protect operational security and preserve the MOD’s ability to respond to any future hostage incidents around the world. (22 October) Layla Moran MP Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international counterparts on post-ceasefire governance in Gaza. Government response: The Prime Minister attended the Peace Summit in Egypt on 13 October where he pledged a £20m aid package to deliver essential water, sanitation and hygiene services to 10,000s of Palestinians across Gaza. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar on 18 October following the announcement of a ceasefire deal. The Foreign Secretary welcomed the release of hostages and urged the need for immediate humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. I co-hosted with the Egyptian government and Palestinian Authority on 13-15 October which was the first conference to look at how we can leverage sustainable private finance to support Gaza’s reconstruction.

Latest News Gaza ceasefire:  At least 236 Palestinians killed by the Israelis since ceasefire – The Morning Star, 2 November Israel confirms Hamas returned bodies of three soldiers held hostage – BBC News, 2 November Updates: Israel blocking vast majority of Gaza aid agreed under ceasefire – Al Jazeera, 1 November Full list of Israel’s ceasefire violations in Gaza – Middle East Eye, 1 November Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 104, health ministry says, after Hamas accused of killing soldier – BBC News, 28 October Fears Gaza ‘temporary’ ceasefire line could become permanent new border – The Guardian, 26 October Gaza children dying as they wait for Israel to enable evacuations – BBC News, 25 October Gaza doctors struggle to investigate ‘signs of torture’ on unnamed dead returned by Israel – BBC News, 24 October The 9,100 Palestinians left behind in Israeli prisons after the ‘peace’ deal – Mondoweiss, 15 October 1.5 million Palestinians left homeless, 60 million tons of rubble across Gaza; local source says – Middle East Monitor, 13 October Two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza: By the numbers – Al Jazeera, 7 October West Bank:‘ Olives are everything for us’: West Bank farmers prevented from harvesting by settler violence – The Guardian, 3 NovemberI srael begins demolition operations in West Bank – Middle East Eye, 3 NovemberI srael arrests five Palestinians in dawn raids in the occupied West Bank – Middle East Eye, 31 October West Bank resistance dies amid fears of becoming Israel’s ‘next Gaza’ – The Guardian, 24 October Israel’s parliament advances bill to annex occupied West Bank – Al Jazeera, 22 October Israel seizes 17 acres of land in Nablus for military purposes – Middle East Monitor, 20 October Israeli forces kill Palestinian in Nablus raid as settlers assault olive pickers – Middle East Eye, 19 October In the occupied West Bank, the war continues – Al Jazeera, 18 October International response:  Israel’s top diplomat says Turkish troops will have no role in Gaza force – The Associated Press, 27 October Netanyahu says Israel will decide which foreign troops acceptable to secure Gaza ceasefire – Reuters, 27 October Vance and Rubio criticise Israeli parliament’s vote on West Bank annexation – BBC News, 23 October ICJ orders Israel to allow aid into Gaza and says restrictions breached international obligations – The Guardian, 22 October Hundreds of Prominent Jews and Israelis Urge World Powers to Hold Israel Accountable ‘For Gaza Atrocities‘ – Haaretz, 22 October EU criticized after pausing sanctions on Israel– Arab News, 21 October Colombian president allocates seized gold to aid Gaza, calls for international rebuilding force – Middle East Monitor, 16 October Israel halts another Gaza aid flotilla as MEPs demand activists’ release – The Guardian, 8 October  In the UK:  New decision on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending Aston Villa match as statement released – The Mirror, 31 October Dependants of some Gazan students can join them in UK, government says – BBC News, 30 October Palestine rights group seeks prosecution of UK citizens who fought for Israel – The Guardian, 23 October  British troops sent to Israel to monitor Gaza ceasefire – The Independent, 22 October Kent police apologise to protester threatened with arrest for holding Palestine flag – The Guardian, 13 October UK’s Palestine Action group wins legal bid to challenge ban – Al Jazeera, 17 October British activist describes abuse in Israeli detention after attack on Gaza aid flotilla – AA, 10 October Starmer considers police crackdown on chants at pro-Palestine protests – The Independent, 8 October