EXCLUSIVE: Palestinians launch legal bid against Britain over 'century of oppression'

Lawyers behind the 400-page legal petition say they have evidence of alleged international law violations during the British rule of Palestine in the first half of the 20th Century

View 2 Images

A group of Palestinians have launched a legal bid for reparations from the UK Government, warning the roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict were "made in Britain".

Lawyers behind the 400-page legal petition say they have evidence of alleged international law violations during the period of British rule in the first half of the 20th Century.

Historical evidence from 1917 to 1948 allegedly shows Britain unlawfully repressed the Palestinian people, and was primarily to blame for the breakup of the single unitary territory, which is now split between Gaza strip and the West Bank, they claim.

It comes as Keir Starmer prepares to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly later this month, unless Israel meets certain conditions. These include agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.

View 2 Images

The landmark legal submission launches the “Britain Owes Palestine” campaign demanding an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, an apology and even reparations for creating a “century of oppression”.

It is being sent tonight to No10, the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Attorney General. Ministers must respond or the Government risks being dragged to court for judicial review.

Lead petitioner, 91-year-old Munib Al-Masri, who was shot in the leg by British soldiers aged 13, said: “The current crisis in Palestine was ‘Made in Britain’, through a catalogue of neglect and abuse of the Palestinian people. Together we have suffered more than a century of oppression."

Mr Al-Masri, a businessman and philanthropist, joins 13 other petitioners in bringing the bid, all of whom lived through Britain's alleged violations.

He said: "Britain can only play its part in building a just peace in the region today if it acknowledges its defining role in the horrors of the past.

"An apology would be a just start to what Palestinians expect from the British government."

Top human rights lawyer Ben Emmerson KC said: “This petition demonstrates, by reference to a comprehensive analysis of contemporary evidence, 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.

“These historic injustices continue to shape the realities on the ground today.

"Britain owes a debt to the Palestinian people. Today’s petition is based upon the international obligations of the United Kingdom to make amends.”

The Government declined to comment.

On Sunday, US ambassador to Israel Mick Huckabee said plans to recognise a Palestinian state were "disastrous" as he claimed it had emboldened Hamas to walk away from hostage talks and encouraged Israel to apply sovereignty to parts of the West Bank.

He told the BBC: "Israel is talking about declaring sovereignty over parts of Judaea and Samaria.

"Whatever the thought was, however noble it may have seemed, it has had disastrous consequences that have proven to do exactly opposite of what many of the European countries have thought would be a great idea."

The State of Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the UN's 193 member states, with France, Canada, Japan and Australia all planning to act.