UK Friends of Standing Together

UK Friends of Standing Together political demands

An updated version of the political statement first published by UK Friends of Standing Together in June 2024, outlining the demands we place on our own government.

UK Friends of Standing Together’s primary aim is to build direct, practical support for the work of Standing Together. Without a strong grassroots movement on the ground fighting for peace and equality, a just and democratic future for the people of Palestine and Israel is impossible. Their work must be reinforced by diplomatic pressure, meaning it is also important we make demands of our own government to change their stance towards the conflict. 

We therefore call on the UK government to:

  1. Use all diplomatic and political channels to advocate for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and hostage-release agreement; for the upholding of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire; against the spreading of military action to other countries in the region; for the release of Palestinians held without charge in “administrative detention”; and for due process for all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
  2. Immediately recognise the State of Palestine, as part of efforts to restart a genuine peace process aimed at ensuring an agreement which guarantees both peoples, Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs, self-determination and equal rights.
  3. Withdraw the licenses under which UK-based firms sell arms to Israel, and end trade with Israeli arms manufacturers. 
  4. Massively increase aid provision to the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, and put meaningful pressure on the Israeli government to ensure the rapid passage of aid into and through Gaza and to overturn its ban on UNWRA. 
  5. Respect and enforce decisions and orders of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, including arrest warrants.
  6. Take stronger action against Israel’s illegal occupation and annexation of the West Bank, including ongoing settlement expansion and forced transfer of Palestinian communities. This should include barring UK charities from funding settler projects; banning the import of settlement goods; expanding sanctions on settler organisations and leaders, including ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

We call on elected representatives to join us in making these demands of the government, and to use their platforms to support and amplify the work of Standing Together and other anti-war, anti-occupation, pro-peace movements in Israel and Palestine working towards a future based on freedom, self-determination and equal rights for both peoples.