On Tuesday 3 June 2025, the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) co-hosted our parliamentary reception to highlight the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, particularly following the most recent blockade and the horrifying scenes and rhetoric surrounding the US-Israel led “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation”, in which people were killed by IDF soldiers trying to collect lifesaving aid for themselves and their families.  

Caabu has joined 20 other organisations in sending an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. We are gravely concerned for imprisoned British-Egyptian writer and prisoner of conscience Alaa Abd el-Fattah and his mother Laila Soueif following her hospitalisation here in London yesterday. We call on the Prime Minister to act immediately.

The Rt Hon Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer KC
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AB

30 May 2025

Dear Prime Minister,

Press Release: Caabu welcomes Foreign Secretary’s statement on Israel and Gaza. More needs to be done to end the genocide

20 May 2025

Caabu welcomes the statement from the Foreign Secretary David Lammy that the continued assault on Gaza by Israel is “unjustifiable, disproportionate, and counterproductive”. The announcement of additional sanctions on violent illegal settlers and entities is appreciated, as well as the suspension of trade talks with Israel. 

Caabu is among 11 human rights organisations unequivocally rejecting the establishment of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a dangerous, politicised sham acting as a smokescreen to rebrand aid access while Israel pushes on with its blockade and bombing of civilians.

Leading Aid and Human Rights Organisations Condemn the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as a Dangerous, Politicised Sham

19 May 2025

Caabu Director Chris Doyle interviewed by LBC on Trump's Arab Gulf visit and Israel's expanded military aggression

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher asks Security Council Members if they will "act decisively to prevent genocide and ensure respect for international humanitarian law"

On 13 May 2025, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher briefed the Security Council, and he asked, “For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now? Will you act – decisively - to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead, 'we did all we could?’”.

The long path to recovery in northeastern Syria - Article by Chris Doyle in Middle East Eye, 11 May 2025

'From prolonged conflict to economic devastation, the region faces a myriad of challenges in its quest to rebuild'

Caabu Press Release:  Two months of Israel’s blockade of Gaza – the UK has to take action to save Palestinians from starvation

2 May 2025

The 2 May marks two months since Israel imposed a complete blockade on the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocking all international aid including water, food, medicine and fuel.  It comes at a time when Gaza’s health-care system is on the brink of collapse as a result of Israeli bombardment of the health infrastructure. 

Caabu Chairman the Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael and Caabu Director Chris Doyle have both called on the UK to recognise the state of Palestine.

This comes as Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa visited the UK this week, meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Read Chris Doyle's article for Arab News on the importance of recognition here, and see below for the Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael's contribution to an Urgent Question in Parliament.

Caabu is among 30 human rights organisations calling on world leaders to act to end Israel’s unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.

21 April 2025