Forty-five UK MPs and peers have signed an open letter calling on the British government to formally apologize for its administration of Palestine between 1917 and 1948. The demand follows a 400-page legal petition submitted by the Britain Owes Palestine campaign, detailing alleged unlawful actions and war crimes during the British Mandate period.
Legal Petition Accuses Britain of War Crimes and Illegality
Leading British barristers Ben Emmerson and Danny Friedman authored the petition, which asserts that Britain violated international laws by failing to recognize Arab self-determination and lacked legal authority for the Balfour Declaration and the mandate. It accuses British authorities of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, arbitrary detention, and mass home demolitions in the region during 1917-1948.
The petition and letter emphasize the need for the UK to acknowledge its historical responsibility as part of current peace efforts. To date, the government has not responded publicly to the petition.
Calls for Apology and Historical Reckoning
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, the first British MP of Palestinian descent, stated that Britain violated a series of binding international laws during its occupation, shaping the ongoing conflict. She said a formal apology is essential to confronting the past and supporting peace initiatives today.
Legal expert Victor Kattan, who helped draft the petition, said the campaign seeks an official apology and a national conversation on reparations. They request the Palestine mandate era be included in school curricula and public memorials, rather than demanding direct financial compensation.
Personal Appeal from Palestinian Philanthropist
Palestinian philanthropist Munib Al-Masri, who was shot by British soldiers as a boy and is leading the petition, remarked that Britain’s actions created conditions contributing to current crises in the region. He called an official apology necessary to acknowledge the enduring harm caused by British policies during the Mandate.
The UK Foreign Office has declined to comment on the petition, stating it does not routinely address petitions of this kind.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.