Reports, statements and articles

15 NGOs demand UK action to stop escalating violence in the West Bank

11 February.

We, the undersigned organisations, urgently call on the UK Government to take immediate action in response to escalating Israeli forces’ violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly in Jenin and Tulkarem refugee camps. 

Since early 2025, Israeli military attacks have killed at least 66 Palestinians in the West Bank, including eight children. The ongoing siege of Jenin has trapped thousands of Palestinians, restricting access to medical care, water, and electricity. On February 2, 2025, the Israeli military demolished approximately 20 buildings in the Jenin refugee camp, further escalating displacement in the area. This latest operation has compounded an already dire situation, with nearly all of the camp’s 20,000 residents forced from their homes over the past two months.

Despite compelling evidence of unlawful killings, mass forced displacement, and attacks on civilian infrastructure, we have yet to see any meaningful action to protect civilians and prevent atrocities in the West Bank or any condemnation from the UK Government or action to hold the Israeli government and forces accountable. Israeli forces have been using disproportionate, unnecessary, and indiscriminate force – including airstrikes on civilian areas and attacks on medical facilities – which are apparent violations of international human rights laws on the use of force. Yet, there has been no clear or forceful response from the UK Government to demand an end or accountability for these actions.

Israeli forces’ atrocities which concentrated for over 15 months in Gaza are now spilling over into the West Bank, with Israeli forces deploying the same indiscriminate military tactics that have killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. Severe movement restrictions, including roadblocks and checkpoints, have paralysed daily life and worsened the humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, settler violence against Palestinians reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with homes set on fire, and Palestinian communities harassed. 

The UK’s failure to respond meaningfully to the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion, which found Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful, is unacceptable. The UK must urgently exert all efforts to ensure that similar patterns of mass killings, displacement, and destruction seen in Gaza do not move to the West Bank, through:

  • Publicly condemn Israeli forces’ actions in the West Bank, including the use of disproportionate, unnecessary and indiscriminate force, and demand an immediate halt to military operations.
  • Demand an immediate and unconditional lifting of the siege on Jenin, ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need, along with the restoration of essential services.
  • Suspend all arms transfer to Israel, including the parts of the F-35 fighter jets.
  • Hold Israeli authorities accountable for violations of international law, including unlawful killings and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
  • Work with international partners to ensure Israel faces meaningful consequences and that Palestinians are protected under international law.
  • Outline a clear plan to end Israel’s continued presence in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and evacuate all settlements, in line with the ICJ Advisory Opinion.

Delay is not measured in time but in Palestinian lives. Every moment of inaction costs more lives. The UK Government must use its diplomatic influence to demand an end to the violence, hold Israeli authorities accountable, and ensure Palestinians’ rights are protected under international law.

The time for action is now. The lives of Palestinians in the West Bank are at stake, and we cannot afford further delay.

Signed by: 

  • Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
  • Oxfam GB
  • Save the Children UK
  • Islamic Relief UK
  • Christian Aid
  • Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
  • Action for Humanity
  • ABCD Bethlehem
  • Amos Trust
  • Welfare Association
  • Sabeel-Kairos UK
  • Muslim Aid
  • Embrace the Middle East
  • Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu)
  • War on Want

A Betrayal of Justice: Kairos Palestine Rejects Trump’s Ethnic Cleansing Proposal and Calls for Global Action

Read the statement from our partner Kairos Palestine issued on 6th February 2025. (more…)

Palestinian Christians from Kairos Palestine meet the Archbishop of Canterbury

“I praise God for the steadfastness of Palestinian Christians in the face of occupation, systemic discrimination and devastating violence. I thank God for their faithfulness in the land where Christ lived, died and was raised from the dead.”
These were the words of the Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, following his meeting with our Director and Palestinian delegation when he met and prayed with them on Tuesday 10th September.

(more…)

2023-24 Annual Report

We are pleased to present you with this annual report, which outlines our advocacy work and priorities during the period between September 2023-24.
(more…)

Nakba Day – A Call for Global Action and Solidarity

Our partner Kairos Palestine, together with the Global Kairos for Justice network, issues this statement and Global Call to Action on the 76th Anniversary of the ongoing Nakba. (more…)

Letters in the Church Times

Well done to our Church of England campaign group who had two letters published in the Church Times on Friday 17th November, and Friday 22nd December. (more…)

New: Don’t Buy Into Occupation release 2022 report

The “Don’t Buy into Occupation” (DBIO) coalition is a joint project between 24 Palestinian, regional and European organisations based in Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK). The coalition aims to investigate and highlight the financial relationships between business enterprises involved in the illegal Israeli settlement enterprise in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and European financial institutions (FIs). Their new report is now out. (more…)

Kairos Palestine: 13th Anniversary conference statement

We were delighted to join our partner Kairos Palestine and members of the worldwide Global Kairos for Justice network in Bethlehem earlier this month for their 13th anniversary conference titled ‘The people, the Church, and resisting occupation’. (more…)

Annual Advocacy report 2021-22

At our AGM on September 12th, we launched our 2021-22 annual report, outlining some of the successes, challenges and new opportunities taken up during September 2021 – September 2022. (more…)

Mr President – this is apartheid in Israel-Palestine

Sabeel-Kairos member Mike Mineter writes on the question of Apartheid in the Pax Christi Scotland Newsletter, issue 24, July 2022. Reproduced with thanks. (more…)

The Nakba at Home – 71 years of displacement.

By Phoebe Rison, Advocacy worker, Sabeel-Kairos

(more…)

Brian Brown: The Nakba

On Holocaust Memorial Day Jews invite us to share their commitment that never again will institutionalised hatred go unchallenged. On the 15 May Palestinians invite us to consider whether their present institutionalised suffering will continue forever? Nakba offers an opportunity to consider the magnitude of that suffering. (more…)

The Question of Antisemitism

The formal adoption of the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism by the UK Government has caused waves of controversy and debate amongst campaigners for justice in Palestine and Israel. To help you understand the issues and concerns, here is some reading on the topic, including the definition itself. (more…)

Displaced once, twice and now three times. The plight of Palestinian refugees in Syria

Background

More than 60 years after the establishment of Israel, there is no Arab-Israeli issue that remains as utterly divisive as the fate of Palestinian refugees. (more…)

On not abandoning Jews and Palestinians

The Rev Anna Karin Hammar, from our sister organisation the Church of Sweden has written a compelling essay on challenging the occupation and European antisemitism, and how we have a responsibility to not abandon but to stand in solidarity with Israelis and Palestinians.

(more…)

The Kairotic times call for a global circle of prophets

A message delivered by Prof. Kim Yong-Bock at the prayer meeting of the Korean Christian Network for Peace in Palestine (KCNPP), at the Christian Building, Seoul, Korea, in May 2015.

 

In the history of politics of the people of God, King Ahab’s regime is identified as a paradigm of evil, as the extreme example of a king who was “more evil than all the kings before him” (1 Kings 16:30; 1 Kings 16:29 through 20:40). This is the background against which the prophetic movement of Elijah arose; and the prophetic movement of resistance against King Ahab was a prophetic paradigm for justice, peace and life together.

(more…)

Talk by Rev Dr Mitri Raheb

Mitri Raheb is a Palestinian Christian, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Betlehem, and leading figure and board member of Kairos Palestine. He is an acclaimed Palestinian theologian with an impressive international reputation and has published multiple books on the subjects of justice, theology and Palestinian rights.

 

He spoke at the 5th Anniversary conference of Kairos Palestine in Dec 2014 on the subject of the Role of the Church. Here are his 7 key points, in 7 minutes: (more…)

Interview with Bissan Kassis

“My father was arrested when I was 6 years old. It would be the first time of many. My childhood ceased to exist. I realised my life was not in my control”

 

As Bissan Kassis tells me her story from an office in Beit Sahour, it’s hard to imagine that this confident, intelligent young woman, who’s English flows as easily as her Arabic, was once the young girl so affected by her father’s arrest. And yet hearing her story, it is an event that has not only shaped her personal life, but her professional one as well. (more…)

Related sections and articles:


Advent/Christmas 2024

Find out more about our resources for advent this year, including our online series, Christmas appeal and prayers.

Read more

Shop!

Buy Sabeel-Kairos T-Shirts, Tote Bags and more here!

Read more

Prayer and theology

Resources, ideas and links to prayer and theology resources on Israel/Palestine

Read more

Cornerstone Magazine

Latest Edition of Cornerstone Magazine

Read more

Books, films, music, exhibitions, flyers etc!

Books, Study guides, photos, films, art and exhibitions to help you learn more and gain understanding.

Read more

Trips to Palestine/Israel

“In order to understand our reality, we say to the Churches: Come and see.” – Sabeel-Kairos Palestine document

Read more

Gaza voices

The Forgotten Crisis: Listening to voices from Gaza

 

Here are some stories of ordinary people living life under siege in Gaza, and actions you can take to bring about an end to the blockade.

Read more

Useful links

Links to organisations involved in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Read more

Sabeel-Kairos is the operating name of Friends of Sabeel UK (FOSUK) Ltd, Charity number 1116817, Company Number 5595112

website design by AndrayV