Interactions Report - March 2025

The UK witnessed intensified political and grassroots activity around the Palestine issue amid ongoing government caution. While UK foreign ministers endorsed an Arab-backed $53 billion Gaza reconstruction plan emphasising Palestinian Authority governance, the government faced criticism over private meetings with Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems and reluctance to hold Israel fully accountable, exemplified by Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s moderated remarks on Israeli breaches of international law. Parliamentary debates featured Jeremy Corbyn’s call for an independent inquiry into UK complicity, and Baroness Northover introduced a bill for formal Palestinian state recognition. Meanwhile, grassroots activism surged with large protests outside the Israeli Embassy and the launch of targeted campaigns like Boycott Bloody Insurance, even as universities and institutions imposed restrictions on pro-Palestinian expression, such as Cambridge University’s protest ban. These dynamics underscore a deepening divide between growing public solidarity efforts and the UK government’s cautious diplomatic and military stance.

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