The Young Liberals and Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine released this statement following a debate on Gaza at the Young Liberals’ Conference last week.
Young Liberals set new a party precedent by calling out “Genocidal” Israeli activity in Gaza, and urge the UK government to take urgent steps to promote a just and lasting resolution.
Cambridge, 22nd August 2025 – At their Summer Conference 2025, the Young Liberals overwhelmingly passed a motion calling on the UK government to take urgent and concrete steps to confront Israel’s genocide in Gaza, end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and support a just, secure and liberal future for both states.
The motion highlights the immense suffering caused by Israel’s military assault on Gaza and deliberate blockade of humanitarian aid to the Strip. It notes the International Court of Justice’s January 2024 ruling that there are plausible grounds to believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, condemns its refusal to comply with the binding measures ordered by the Court, and affirms that it is now right to plainly describe Israel’s actions as genocidal. The motion has fired a starting gun on a new conversation within the party regarding the use of the term genocide, only weeks before the national Annual Conference takes places in Bournemouth.
The motion warns that the failure to justly resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict has eroded democracy and civil society on both sides, leaving Palestinians and Israeli civilians trapped in cycles of violence and insecurity, and affirms that only a negotiated political settlement can deliver a just and lasting peace that respects the right to dignity, freedom and security for both peoples.
The Young Liberals urged the UK Government to uphold international law and end its complicity by:
- suspending all military and security cooperation with Israel;
- banning all trade with illegal settlements;
- prosecuting British citizens credibly accused of committing war crimes in Gaza; and
- launching a public inquiry into UK involvement in the conflict.
The motion further calls for:
-
- targeted sanctions against Israeli officials complicit in unlawful acts;
- suspension of the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement;
- urgent steps to promote a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid access; and
- a durable political settlement rooted in peace, justice and democracy.
In his speech to summate the motion, Rowan Fitton, Young Liberals Co-International Officer, said:
It is not enough to only recognise the state of Palestine as a member of the international community. Whilst a welcome and necessary step, the UK must also take concrete steps to support the long process of reconciliation [between Israelis and Palestinians], invest in the fair and Palestinian-led rebuilding of Gaza, and account for the role played by the UK.
Anne-Marie Simpson, Chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, said:
We warmly welcome this motion, which rightly condemns Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza and decades-long suppression of the right of the Palestinian people to peace, dignity, justice, and self-determination.
For too long our government has paid lip service to international law while supplying arms, military support, and diplomatic cover to a state committing some of the worst crimes known to humanity. The UK must stop enabling Israel’s atrocities and end its complicity once and for all.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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10 Comments
Good to see this posted on LDV in the same week that Ed announced his boycott of dinner with Trump. Members should give these publicity by writing to their local newspapers and posting on social media.
An excellent, strong motion – well done Young Liberals!
Really good to see the Young Liberals and LibDem friends of Palestine, together posting this strong motion exhorting the government to get on the right side of history and stop helping the IDF to commit genocide and impose sanctions on Isreal.
Excellent to see the Young Liberals take this position.
Israel has become a pariah state so much so that even the republican dominated congress has refused to pass two motions recently.
1. On criminalizing Israeli boycotts
2. On conflating antisemitism with criticism of Israel to protect Israel
When will the US and UK government catch on?
Delighted to read this, well done indeed YLs. We need our leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller to press the Government now for more and fiercer actions to be taken immediately.
Gives me some much needed hope, reading this from our Young people.
At that age I wouldn’t have dared speak out like that, but inside me I was bursting to shout out about the Vietnam war. I didn’t know anyone else that dared think that.
That is the power of being together and allowed to speak up and out.
Did they ask Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel to sign up to the statement? That would be a significant achievement. I have just had a quick look to try to find their opinion on current events, but could not locate anything.
@Lee – you could look at the LDFI twitter feed https://x.com/_LDFI/status/1957070901578547294
Excellent motion detailing what needs to be done. The only thing I would add is that we should also include something on ensuring Israel’s geographical integrity and something on human rights as per the Good Friday agreement for Northern Ireland.