A group of Palestinians has submitted a legal petition to the UK government, calling for acknowledgment of what they describe as 'serial international law violations' during the British occupation of Palestine from 1917 to 1948. The 400-page document, drafted by human rights KCs, alleges war crimes and crimes against humanity, with consequences that persist today.
The petition cites the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the lack of legal basis for the mandate, and systematic abuse of Palestinians. It argues that Britain bears distinct responsibility for the current crisis, which it describes as the gravest since 1948, and owes reparations. Among the petitioners is 91-year-old Munib al-Masri, who was shot by British soldiers as a child.
The campaign, 'Britain Owes Palestine', seeks an official apology and reparations. The petition, served on 31 March, follows UK apologies for colonial wrongs, including the Batang Kali massacre in Malaya. If the government fails to respond, judicial review proceedings could follow.
Ben Emmerson, a former UN special rapporteur and KC working on the case, stated: 'This petition demonstrates the extent of British responsibility for the terrible suffering in Palestine, which can be traced back to Britain’s violations of international law during its occupation and subsequent withdrawal.'
