Write to your MP
In addition to UK Friends of Standing Together’s efforts to support the work of Standing Together in Israel, we also want our own government to do more to promote peace and equality in Israel-Palestine.
We are encouraging supporters to write to their MPs. A model letter is below.
You can find contact details for your MP here.
Dear [YOUR MP],
I am writing to you as a concerned constituent who is a supporter of UK Friends of Standing Together (UKFoST). UKFoST’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 from our own government, meaning it is also important we change its policy towards Israel-Palestine.
Much of the rhetoric around the conflict has been characterised by dehumanisation, especially from far-right actors in Israel and abroad. The UK government’s approach has sometimes fuelled this, by failing to consistently affirm the universal applicability of basic human rights, for example by failing to affirm the rights of Palestinian refugees in Britain and refusing to allow others to travel to Britain for urgent medical treatment.
UKFoST welcomes Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment to establish an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace that will support the work of 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. We welcome and support the recommendations of the House of Commons International Development Committee’s report on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territory, which would begin to address the fundamental imbalance of power and set out a path towards Palestinian self-determination. UKFoST also welcomes Foreign Minister David Lammy’s support for the Arab League’s Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza.
However, pledges and reports need to be actioned in order to bring about security and freedom for all people living in Israel-Palestine. Political will and political action underpin it all.
Therefore as my MP, I ask you to call on the UK government to use all diplomatic and political channels to:
- Advocate for the completion of all stages of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, resulting in a permanent ceasefire, release of all hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the reconstruction of Gaza for the Palestinian people.
- Oppose Donald Trump’s plan for the expulsion of Gazans from the territory; deepen UK support for the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan.
- Demand the release of Palestinians held without charge in “administrative detention” and for due process for all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
- Demand an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, and for Palestinians expelled from their homes in recent military incursions to be allowed to return.
- Work to uphold the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire and against the spreading of military action to other countries in the region.
I also ask you to call on the UK government to:
- 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.
- Withdraw the licenses under which UK-based firms sell arms to Israel, and end trade with Israeli arms manufacturers.
- 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.
- Respect and enforce decisions and orders of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, including arrest warrants.
- Take strong 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.
- Implement the recommendations of the House of Commons International Development Committee report on “Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.
- Fulfill the pledge to establish an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace Fund that will support the work of 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.
- To firmly and publicly reject both anti-Palestinian racism and antisemitism.
I also call on you to use your 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.
Yours,
&c.