| To view the full briefing please click here |
London, 1 September 2026 – The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), in collaboration with the Labour Muslim Network (LMN), have published a major policy briefing on the UK’s priorities regarding Palestine.
The document, Legal Brief: Priority Measures for UK Policy on Palestine, which has been sent to the UK’s Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, identifies six areas in which the UK must urgently adopt further legal and policy measures in response to Israel’s unlawful conduct in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), namely the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
The detailed briefing comes at a time when the new Labour government has committed to strengthening its policies on Palestine. New policies must align the UK’s domestic law and policy with its international legal obligations as further clarified by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its Advisory Opinion of July 2024.
ICJP and LMN are providing decision-makers with a practical legal and policy framework for action. Analysis of the six, interconnected priority areas exposes gaps between the UK’s stated commitment to international law and the practical consequences of its policies.
The six priority areas are:
- Illegal Israeli settlements: sanctions, economic relations and charitable funding;
- UNRWA: sustained UK funding and protection of the Agency’s mandate and operations;
- Religious sites and freedom of worship: protection of Palestinian access to holy sites and places of worship, and defence of the status quo at Al-Aqsa and the Muslim and Christian holy sites of Jerusalem;
- Arms exports: suspension of all military exports and transfers capable of supporting Israeli military operations;
- Protection of Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank: a UK-led initiative at the UN Security Council for an international protective presence; and
- British nationals serving in the IDF: accountability and reform of the domestic legal framework.
The UK Government must not wait for the outcome of upcoming Israeli elections to act. The UK must end its pattern of expressing condemnation without consequence while Israel continues to impose unlawful facts on the ground with impunity. The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion establishes clear and immediate obligations for third states, including the UK, in relation to non-recognition, non-assistance and the requirement to distinguish in their dealings between Israel and the oPt – action that is now both a legal obligation and an urgent necessity.
If the government is serious about fulfilling its obligations under international law, it must ensure that it implements concrete policies as detailed in this briefing.
Neil Sammonds, ICJP’s Head of Public Affairs and Communications, said:
“For years, ICJP and other NGOs, including Palestinian and Israeli ones, as well as UN bodies and human rights experts, have consistently put the evidence of war crimes, of the UK’s obligations and the urgent need for concrete action in front of successive UK Governments. But meaningful action has been lacking.
“This Labour Government has repeatedly said that it stands for human rights and international law. But statements of principle mean little if they are not reflected in policy and action. We have set out the law, the evidence and the steps required. The Government must put stated commitments into practice.
“To the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister, I would say this: you have overwhelming evidence of Palestinians and Palestine being erased, with impunity. You have clear legal obligations and you have the means to act. What is needed now is the political will.”
To view the full briefing please click here
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- For more information, to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at [email protected].
