Israel and Palestine (Feb 2025)

I last sent out an update shortly before Christmas, at which time I spoke hopefully but with trepidation about the possibility of a ceasefire. It is with mixed feeling that I am now writing with the positivity of a ceasefire being in place, but with considerable concern that the actions of President Trump could cause it to fall apart. I, like you, are horrified at the prospect of fighting starting again, and what that would mean for Palestinians, Israelis and the wider region – all of whom deserve to live in peace. 

As I have written previously, I decided early in the conflict, that as the EDM process was being used to cause political division, I would sign only those motions which were putting on the parliamentary record the updated Liberal Democrat position. I have to say that at the time of making that decision, I couldn’t imagine that we would be seeing threats of direct intervention by the United States of America in the Gaza strip. 

Trump’s proposal for Gaza is bizarre but also dangerous. We desperately need this fragile truce to hold - but the President’s approach is more like a bull in a china shop. He’s showing casual disregard for the rights and aspirations of Palestinians, who have suffered for so long. The UK must make clear that Trump’s proposals are wrong, flying in the face of international law. 

I have therefore sponsored a parliamentary motion setting out our updated policy in relation to Trump and Gaza, which states: 

That this House believes that President Trump’s proposals for Gaza are dangerously irresponsible; recognises the need to uphold the rights and security of all citizens in Israel and Palestine; notes with concern that President Trump’s approach demonstrates total disregard for the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people; acknowledges the immense suffering that Palestinians have endured for so long; warns that President Trump’s statements will only deepen fear and uncertainty in Palestinians' lives; stresses the importance of maintaining the current ceasefire as a foundation for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East; calls on the UK Government to condemn President Trump’s proposals as both wrong and in violation of international law; and urges the UK to take this moment to immediately recognise Palestine as a state on 1967 Lines and accordingly advance a two-state solution. 

I understand that the ceasefire becoming permanent is not a straightforward undertaking. I remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian devastation in Gaza - and in particular the deteriorating situation in Northern Gaza. This is worsened by the laws passed and now enacted by the Israeli Knesset banning UNRWA. Israel must meet its obligations to facilitate aid into Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and I welcome the Government’s explicit commitment on pushing Israel to ensure ongoing humanitarian obligations. 

I also welcome the Government’s announcement of a £17 million package of humanitarian support for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. However, I remain deeply concerned that the Government is failing our obligations on the global stage, and indeed our long-term national security, by failing to reinstate our budget for humanitarian aid and international development. This month marks 20 years since the launch of the Make Poverty History campaign. One of the major successes of this campaign was the passing of the Liberal Democrat Private Member’s Bill which made the UN target of sending 0.7% of gross national income on official development assistance a UK law. This was cut by the Conservative Government, and disappointingly Labour has made no movement to tackle the urgent global need by reinstating it. As Trump cuts USAID, with the need to rebuild Gaza, and respond to crises the world over, this has never been more important. I raised this in Parliament earlier in February, which you can see here  https://youtu.be/jxhy-vN9WQA?si=lxExZZVetLRtWuEB . 

Concerningly, the ceasefire has done nothing to stop settler violence in the West Bank. Indeed, we have seen reports of it increasing in recent weeks. Settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is one of the biggest barriers to peace. These settlements are illegal under international law, exacerbate tension, and undermine the viability of a two-state solution. Liberal Democrats were the first major UK political party to call on the UK Government to sanction far-right Israeli ministers, and leaders of the extremist settler movement, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. We have continually raised this in the Chamber and in private correspondence. It is also our position that we ought to cease UK trade with illegal Israeli settlements: a simple means of upholding the ICJ opinion from Summer 2024. 

Ultimately, as long as the threat of war continues and illegal settlements remain in place, arms exports should be halted to Israel. It is a longstanding Liberal Democrat policy that we ought to have tougher controls of UK arms exports, to ensure they are not used in potential human rights breaches. To do so, we support the introduction of a ‘presumption of denial’ for all governments listed in the FCDO Human Rights and Democracy report, which includes Israeli activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 

In my last update, I wrote about the ongoing Select Committee inquiry into the sale of arms to Israel. There have been no further evidence sessions, but there has been a series of correspondence between the Government and the Committee, through which the Committee is pushing the Government to justify its stance. You may find this interesting, and can be found online here https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8660/uk-arms-exports-to-israel/publications/3/correspondence/. The work of the Committee is ongoing, and I will keep you updated on their findings. 

Finally, in relation to the International Criminal Court. I have written extensively before on my support for their work. My position remains the same. It is vital that the Government complies with our obligations under international law by upholding the ICC ruling, including arrest warrants. 

As the hostages are being released, Israel withdraws from Gaza, and Palestinians are allowed to return home it feels in many ways closer to the peace and a two-state solution than we have been for some time. The UK must play a role in supporting that outcome, both politically and practically. I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues will continue to call on the Government to do what is needed, and to work with our allies to counter threats to the peace deserved by both Palestinians and Israelis.