A new episode of International Law in Crisis is now available.
Posted: 13th February 2026
Episode 13: Britain Owes Palestine examines one of the most significant legal accountability efforts relating to Britain’s role in Palestine to date.
In this episode, we explore the Britain Owes Palestine campaign – a landmark demand for historical accountability and justice. A group of Palestinians has submitted a detailed 400-page legal petition to the UK Government arguing that Britain must formally acknowledge, apologise for, and make reparations for its actions in Palestine between 1917 and 1948 - actions they say laid the foundations for the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict and continue to reverberate today.
Drafted by a team of leading international lawyers and historians – including Ben Emmerson KC, Danny Friedman KC, Avi Shlaim, John Quigley, and Dr Victor Kattan - the petition sets out what its sponsors describe as incontrovertible evidence of violations of international law during the Mandate period, from the Balfour Declaration to systemic repression, unlawful policies, and the enduring impact of partition.
Led by philanthropist Munib Al Masri, alongside 13 other petitioners whose lives were shaped by colonial-era violence and displacement, the campaign seeks more than an apology. It calls for a reckoning – and for tangible reparative justice.
To unpack the historical claims, legal arguments, and broader implications of this bold push for accountability, we are joined by Dr Victor Kattan, a member of the expert legal team behind the petition.
About our guest
Dr Victor Kattan is a public international law scholar and Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham, as well as Deputy Director of the Nottingham International Law and Security Centre. His research focuses on the history of international law, colonial responsibility, and the legal foundations of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He is the author of From Coexistence to Conquest.
Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts – just search Britain Palestine Project.
As ever, thank you for listening and for engaging with these urgent conversations.
With warm regards,
The Britain Palestine Project Team