I am writing to urge you to take a clear and principled stand against Israel’s ongoing annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Settlement expansion and the consolidation of Israeli control over Palestinian land are widely recognised as violations of international law. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank have been considered illegal under international law since 1967, yet recent developments mark a significant escalation. Plans signed on the 15th of February introduce land registration procedures across area C which is around 60% of the West Bank. Placing Palestinian land claims under Israeli administrative authority increases the risk that communities will be unable to prove ownership which leaves land more vulnerable to dispossession. Many Palestinians lack formal documentation due to historical displacement and decades of administrative barriers. This means land that cannot be officially registered may be reclassified as ‘state land’ or allocated for settlement use. This creates a legal pathway that causes long-standing Palestinian communities to lose access to their land and homes.

According to the International Court of Justice, approximately 465,000 Israeli settlers now live in the occupied West Bank. This is spread across roughly 300 settlements and outposts, all of which are considered to be illegal under international law. While settlement expansion has taken place for decades, the scale and institutionalisation of current policies risk making permanent territorial changes on the ground.

The UK government has stated that settlements are illegal. Yet without meaningful action, the situation on the ground is becoming irreversible. Officials from 19 countries, including Turkey, Qatar, France and Brazil, have formally criticised Israel’s recent measures, with over 80 UN member states warning that they risk entrenching unlawful control over Palestinian land.

I therefore urge you to:

Ensure the UK’s actions are consistent with its stated commitment to uphold international law by supporting concrete measures to halt settlement expansion, including banning all trade with Israel.

The UK must not remain complicit through inaction while international law is undermined and Palestinian rights continue to be violated.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,