All praises belong to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
We, the undersigned Imams and scholars from across the UK, express deep concern regarding recent political remarks made by international leaders concerning Palestinian statehood.
At a time when the people of Gaza are enduring unimaginable suffering, we believe these statements warrant scrutiny and clarification.
Devaluing the Palestinian cause
We are particularly dismayed by Sir Keir Starmer’s recent remarks, in which the question of Palestinian statehood appeared to be used as a bargaining tool in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Such a move risks devaluing the Palestinian cause and appears to prioritise political expediency over meaningful justice.
Recognition of a Palestinian state
We also note with caution the recent declarations by France, the United Kingdom, and Canada regarding the future recognition of a “viable” Palestinian state.
While symbolic gestures may signal a shift in tone, we are concerned that they remain conditional, vague, and ultimately insufficient.
Recognition based on undefined or imposed criteria — particularly without addressing the root causes of Zionist occupation and displacement — risks entrenching the status quo rather than challenging it.
Normalisation, governance, resistance
We are further concerned by reported efforts to impose Palestinian Authority control over Gaza as part of wider regional normalisation agreements.
Any future governance structure in Palestine must be determined by the Palestinian people themselves, free from external pressure or coercion.
We affirm the following principles:
- The Palestinian people have the inalienable right to self-determination and to choose their own leadership without foreign interference.
- Under international law, they have the right to resist Zionist military occupation using legitimate means of defence.
- Any future peace must be grounded in justice, not imposed terms or token recognition.
We call upon all nations of conscience to work toward a just and lasting resolution to the conflict by addressing the root causes: decades of Zionist occupation, systemic displacement, and violence against the Palestinian people.
Serious action — not symbolic words — is needed to end what many now recognise as an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.
We also remind our fellow Muslims of their moral and religious responsibility to support the oppressed.
This includes:
- Providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in need.
- Peacefully challenging companies complicit in the Zionist occupation through legal boycotts and consumer awareness.
- Exposing those who seek to legitimise Zionist injustice under religious or political cover.
- Using expertise — whether in media, advocacy, or technology — to amplify truth and defend human dignity.
- Double standards must be called out
- Finally, we must not allow fear or intimidation to silence legitimate support for Palestinian rights.
While foreign nationals are permitted to join the Zionist military forces and return to the UK without scrutiny — even in cases where allegations of war crimes have been raised — British Muslims are increasingly targeted for expressing solidarity with the victims of this conflict. This double standard must be challenged.
We call for a just, peaceful, and principled resolution — one that upholds international law, human rights, and the dignity of all people in the region.
Signatories
Dr. Haitham al-Haddad, London
Dr. Mufti Abdur Rahman, London
Shaykh Zahir Mahmood, Birmingham
Shaykh Asrar Rashid, Birmingham
... and 200 more.
Source: Islam21c.com dated 6 August 2025, which has the full list of signatories