Britain Palestine Project: Report from Rule of Law Conference

Posted: 12th May 2025

Thank you for your continued support of the Britain Palestine Project.

Whether or not you were able to attend our Rule of Law Conference today, we’re pleased to share the Action Plan that emerged from our discussions. Grounded in international law and the principle of equal rights, the plan outlines clear, urgent steps the UK government must.

The full Action Plan is available below and here on our website.

Recordings from our conference will be available shortly.

We hope you’ll read it, share it, and join us in urging policymakers to act with principle and urgency.

With thanks,

The Britain Palestine Project Team

Read Action Plan on our website

Britain-Palestine Project Conference 2025

 
The Britain-Palestine Project (BPP) welcomes the signing of the UK-Palestine Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation[1] as an important step toward deepening the bilateral relationship. The MoU prioritises humanitarian support, democratic renewal, and a renewed commitment to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. We commend the UK’s support for humanitarian relief, adherence to the rule of law, and the affirmation of Palestinian self-determination. However, while the MoU is a positive foundation, further decisive action is needed to turn these aspirations into lasting change. The premise of the Britain-Palestine Project 2025 Conference is that the path to a better future for Palestinians and Israelis lies in consistent application of the Rule of Law, not selective rhetoric or passive diplomacy, therefore the British should build on the MOU and:
 

• Lead a Coalition of the Willing to Demand an Immediate Ceasefire

Britain must convene a coalition of like-minded states to demand an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. Britain must now move immediately to concrete recommendations on what Israel should be obliged to do under international law: notably, to facilitate the establishment of secure humanitarian corridors into Gaza, and to permit the deployment of international monitors mandated by, and reporting to, the UN Security Council in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank. Given that General Assembly resolutions are often ignored, the UK must be prepared to escalate if necessary. Suspension of Israel’s General Assembly privileges, as was done with apartheid South Africa, must be firmly placed on the table if violations persist. Demands for humanitarian access,  ensuring life-saving aid reaches civilians in accordance with international law and the ICJ’s provisional measures, must be backed by credible enforcement, with real consequences for the Occupying Power if obstructed. Britain should work with the State of Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and other regional actors to establish and monitor secure humanitarian corridors into Gaza, supported by an international monitoring presence at entry points to guarantee aid delivery and civilian protection.
 

·Recognise the State of Palestine Now

Britain must immediately extend formal recognition to the State of Palestine, alongside Israel, based on the pre-1967 Green Line borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. This step validates the Palestinian right to self-determination and parity of esteem. With 147 countries already recognising Palestine, continued UK hesitation only prolongs Israel’s unlawful occupationand undermines the two-state solution. Recognition does not prejudge final-status negotiations but creates the necessary conditions for future dialogue. It will also align Britain’s policy with the ICJ’s advisory opinion (July 2024), which found Israel’s occupation illegal and called on states not to aid or legitimise it.
 

• Act to Uphold International Law and End Impunity

Britain must align its policy unequivocally with international law and end the culture of impunity that enables ongoing violations. Rhetoric must now be replaced by credible enforcement. The UK must:

• Support ICC investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, cooperating fully and respecting any resulting warrants or rulings, regardless of political sensitivities.
• Act immediately to end UK actions that aid or abet the unlawful occupation, including banning trade with Israeli settlements by implementing the ICJ Advisory Opinion (July 2024).
• Meet Genocide Convention obligations in Gaza: Ensure Israel complies with the ICJ’s provisional measures by guaranteeing unimpeded humanitarian relief and taking all necessary actions to prevent acts constituting war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. The UK must also scrutinise its own policies to avoid contributing to such risks.
• Support the re-convening of the Conference of High Contracting Parties (HCP) to the Fourth Geneva Convention: Britain must now actively push for the conference, abandoned in March 2025 under international pressure including from the UK, to be revived with a strong mandate to hold Israel accountable under international humanitarian law. The UK must reverse its previous obstruction and advocate for a robust outcome document that demands compliance and outlines consequences for breaches.
• Move beyond expressions of “concern” by advocating for an international protective presence in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem via the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council, to deter settler violence, document abuses, and provide independent oversight.
• Britain should support the establishment of a short-term technocratic administration in Gaza post-conflict, drawn from credible, non-partisan Palestinian figures. This transitional governance should be backed by a robust international security presence to guarantee civilian protection, create the conditions for reconstruction, and ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Gazan territory.
• Britain must explicitly support the reunification of the West Bank including East Jerusalem and Gaza under a legitimate Palestinian governance structure. Furthermore, the UK must publicly commit to recognising and accepting the results of future Palestinian elections, regardless of the winner, provided those elected respect international law.

 

• Suspend Arms Transfers and End UK Complicity in War Crimes

The UK must immediately suspend all arms exports, military cooperation, and intelligence-sharing with Israel to avoid complicity in war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law. This moratorium must remain until all violations of international law cease and robust, verifiable safeguards are established to prevent UK arms or support being used in further breaches. Several key allies, including Canada, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Japan, have already suspended arms shipments. Britain must now join this emerging consensus and press for an end to violations. There can be no business as usual during mass atrocities. Aligning UK policy with international law is a moral necessity and a strategic imperative to preserve Britain’s global credibility.
 

• Reset UK Foreign Policy to Focus on Equal Rights and Regional Diplomacy

Britain must rebalance its “principled pragmatism” to prioritise equal rights, justice, and mutual security for Palestinians and Israelis alike. Simply improving public rhetoric will not regain Britain’s respect in the Global South or elsewhere, only meaningful action, including imposing consequences for violations, will be credible. Britain should use its convening power, historical responsibility, and multilateral reach to support regionally-led peace initiatives, not to impose external solutions. This requires full endorsement of the Arab League’s Cairo Summit outcomes (March 2025): Supporting Gaza’s reconstruction, guaranteeing against forced displacement, and establishing an international protection force for Palestinians. It also entails support for the New York Conference (June 2025) co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia: Advancing a serious, enforceable pathway toward a two-state solution based on international law.
 
Future peace efforts must be firmly based on:

• Equal participation of Palestinians in any negotiations;
• Full respect for UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions;
• Adherence to the principle that acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible;
• Recognition of self-determination for both peoples, Israeli and Palestinian.

As part of this reset:

• Britain must back a transitional technocratic administration in Gaza after hostilities end, supported by an international security presence and coupled with a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
• Britain must support Palestinian efforts to reunify the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and Gaza under legitimate and accountable governance structures.
• Britain must publicly commit to accepting the outcome of future Palestinian elections without reservation, so long as elected bodies commit to peaceful political processes and respect international law.

 
Through these measures, Britain can finally rebuild its credibility, demonstrate consistency in its commitment to human rights and international law, and help lay the groundwork for a future in which both Palestinians and Israelis live with freedom, dignity, and security.Support us by shopping!