JJP lobbies the FCDO

On 28 May 2026 we wrote to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office seeking a meeting to discuss the current, very dangerous situation. We pointed out, among other things, that Israel has killed nearly six times more Palestinians in Gaza since the “ceasefire” in October than the headline figures say. We argued that, for regional stability as well as justice and law, Israel’s Greater Israel project must be brought to an end.

We wrote similar letters seeking meetings to 12 embassies.

Our letter to the FCDO is below

Rob Dixon 28 May 2026

Director, Middle East and North Africa

Dear Mr. Dixon,

We are writing to seek a meeting to discuss the situation arising since the Gaza “ceasefire” on 10 October 2025, which has been largely fictional from the Israeli side.

OCHA reported 881 Palestinians killed in its last report, but that only includes those killed and identified in each reporting week. Adding bodies that could not be identified in the week they were killed or found, takes the number killed to about 5,000. The numbers of unidentified were very high in the first three months of the ceasefire, then fell back, but have now returned to high levels. The attached chart shows the figures by week.

Pressure on the Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank has continued. Nearly 120 have been killed and nearly 2200 injured, about 70% by the IDF and 30% by settlers trying to force Palestinians off their land. Settlement expansion plans have been accelerated. The revived plan for E1, if implemented, will sound the death-knell for a Palestinian state.

We welcome the joint statement of 22 May by the UK, 10 other countries and the EU on the situation in the West Bank. The statement rightly emphasises the strategic importance of E1. That will be useless, however, unless it is accompanied by a strong, united demarche that Israel will face consequences for any attempt to displace Palestinians from E1 or to begin settlement construction there. Demarches on E1 have been effective in the past. They can be again if vigorously pursued.

That, in microcosm, is the situation of the entire occupation and denial of the Palestinian right to self determination. Experience has shown that Israel will not agree to end the occupation and give up its plan to create Greater Israel because of statements alone, or by being told it is breaking international law. Tangible economic and diplomatic consequences will be necessary. Pre-eminent among them is suspension of the tariff-free trade Israel enjoys with its western partners. The UK should work with the other 10 signatory countries to suspend free-trade with Israel under the human rights policies of each country.

Arms export bans as further pressure on Israel should be revisited. A recent Declassified article revealed shipment through Belgium of UK-manufactured equipment for Israeli air force trainers. The F-35 cut-out should not be widened in this way to include pilot training.

More widely, we have seen how Israeli policies have resulted in another war with Hezbollah and the Israeli-US attack on Iran. Israel’s motive is to destroy Hezbollah and break up Iran as potential opposition to its ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the West Bank. So for regional stability as well as justice and law, Israel’s Greater Israel project must be brought to an end.

We hope to hear from you shortly to arrange a meeting.

Arthur Goodman

Diplomatic and Parliamentary Officer