A group of Palestinians has filed a 400-page legal petition demanding that the UK government take responsibility for what they describe as “serial international law violations” committed during the British occupation of Palestine between 1917 and 1948. The petition accuses Britain of committing war crimes and leaving a legacy of oppression that Palestinians argue still shapes their reality today.
The petition, drafted by leading human rights barristers Ben Emmerson KC and Danny Friedman KC, outlines “incontrovertible evidence” of Britain’s unlawful role in Palestine. It highlights the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Britain’s role as an occupying power without legal authority, and the systematic abuse of the Palestinian people during the mandate period.
Campaign for Acknowledgment and Reparations
The petition was formally served on the UK government on Sunday, marking the launch of the “Britain Owes Palestine” campaign. Petitioners are pressing for official acknowledgment, a public apology, and reparations for what they call a century of oppression.
Among the petitioners is 91-year-old philanthropist Munib al-Masri, who was shot by British soldiers at the age of 13. Al-Masri said: “The current crisis in Palestine was made in Britain through a catalogue of neglect and abuse. Britain can only play its part in peace today if it acknowledges its role in the horrors of the past. An apology would be a just start.”
Britain’s Colonial Legacy Under Scrutiny
The legal submission cites Britain’s failure to recognize an Arab nation in Palestine despite promises made in the McMahon–Hussein correspondence during World War I. It also accuses Britain of brutally repressing the Arab revolt of 1936–1939, adopting statutory martial law that led to widespread murder, torture, arbitrary detention, and other crimes against humanity.
The petition argues that Britain bears responsibility for the destruction of Palestine as a unitary territory and for failing to protect the rights of the indigenous Palestinian Arab population during its withdrawal in 1948. However, it does not contest the post-1948 recognition of Israel in international law.
Legal Action and International Accountability
If the UK government does not respond to the petition, the case could proceed to judicial review at the High Court in London. Emmerson stated: “This petition demonstrates, with comprehensive evidence, the extent of Britain’s responsibility for the suffering in Palestine, which stems from its violations of international law during occupation and withdrawal. Britain owes a debt to the Palestinian people.”
The petition also draws on historical precedents. Earlier this year, the UK apologized for the 1948 Batang Kali massacre in Malaya, one of several formal acknowledgments of colonial-era crimes. Petitioners argue that Palestinians deserve similar recognition and redress.
Testimonies of the Dispersed
All 14 petitioners experienced displacement or violence under British rule. Saeed Husain Ahmad Haj, now in his 90s, recalls Israeli paramilitary Haganah forces storming his village in 1948 during Operation Dani, which forced his family into the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, where he still resides.
For Palestinians, the legal action is not just about the past, but about holding Britain accountable under international law for policies and actions that they argue continue to fuel today’s crisis.
