Palestine

Finding the most up-to-date information

From the NEU: https://neu.org.uk/about/international/development-co-operation/palestine

From Palestine Solidarity Campaign: https://palestinecampaign.org/events/

Adressing Palestine in schools: Guidance for educators

We are aware that the issue of Palestine and Israel is of great concern to NEU members as well as the students and communities we work with. This section is to support members of the NEU address issues in relation to events in the Middle East in schools and colleges.

The NEU has produced this guidance which we encourage you to read:

Conflict in the Middle East: Issues for Schools

Extract from the introduction: ‘The life of a school or college is strongly influenced by outside factors and this war can pose difficult challenges for staff. Staff may find that they must deal with the sensitive task of responding to pupils’ reactions to violent events. The NEU is confident that its members are skilled professionals who can meet the challenge of educating young people to develop a firm understanding of human rights and who can contribute to a more peaceful future. This advice aims to support members to do so.

It is important that any discussions within schools and colleges – both those formally arranged as part of classroom teaching and those that may take place informally between students and between staff – are conducted respectfully and calmly.

The advice contained in this document is relevant to all schools and colleges, though some of its content may be more appropriate to some sectors than others.’

NEU Policies on Palestine

Here is the most recent motion on Palestine (resolution 30 voted at Annual Conference 2025):

Resolution 30: Palestine

Conference notes:

Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed at least 48,000 Palestinians, with
many more presumed dead, left 117,000 injured and over one million
people displaced, and has created a humanitarian crisis
The International Court of Justice has found South Africa’s case, that Israel
is committing genocide in Gaza, to be plausible
The UK government, as a party to the Genocide Convention, has obligations
to prevent and punish those guilty of acts of genocide
The large destruction of schools and universities in Gaza termed
‘scholasticide’ has had a huge impact on education; this is the second year
children have had no access to schooling
UK based arms companies spend millions every year to sponsor school
events, fund competitions, run careers roadshows, provide work
experience, and fund apprenticeships for students. For example, BAE
invested £100m in education skills, and early careers in 2022 alone. They
have visited over 5,000 schools through their STEM roadshow, reaching
over 1.3 million pupils.
Palestinian trade unions have called on their counterparts to end all forms
of complicity with Israel’s crimes
The heavy-handed policing at the Palestine national demonstration on 18th
January, including the violent arrest of chief steward Chris Nineham
The subsequent charges brought against Chris Nineham and PSC director
Ben Jamal and the questioning under caution of Jeremy Corbyn MP and
John McDonnell MP
That climate activists have been subject to disproportionate and draconian
custodial sentences aimed at undermining civil liberties, while trade
unionists have endured legal attempts to limit effective strike action and
picketing.

Conference believes the Metropolitan Police’s actions on the 18 January national
demonstration, and following it, are an affront to our democratic right to protest
and an attempt to criminalise solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Conference believes Israel’s offensive in Gaza follows decades of violations of
Palestinian human rights and international law, ethnic cleansing, and the
imposition of a system of oppression against all Palestinians, including those
living under military occupation and those who are citizens of Israel. This is
recognised internationally as meeting the legal definition of apartheid.

Conference condemns:
a. Donald Trump’s call for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza, and
their removal to other countries, to create a ‘riviera’
b. The growing assault by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) on the West Bank,
and the violent displacement of Palestinian and Bedouin Communities by
settlers
c. State and media attempts to smear the movement for Palestine in this
country, for example through attacking it with spurious predictions of
violence and disruption, evidence from previous protests notwithstanding.
Conference reaffirms its support for Palestinian rights, the Palestine Solidarity
Campaign and Stop the War.

Conference instructs the executive to:
i. Call for an immediate two-way arms embargo with Israel
ii. Demand a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages and
Palestinian political prisoners
iii. Call for safe access to essentials including water, electricity, and
food
iv. Advertise national and local PSC demonstrations and encourage
members to attend with trade union banners
v. Work with PSC’s LGPS divest campaign to ensure school support
staff’s pensions are not invested in companies that are complicit in
violations of human rights and international law
vi. Advertise the national days of action to members and encourage
them to take part within contractual arrangements
vii. Affiliate with the ‘Disarm Education’ campaign advocating for
schools and colleges to publicly commit to end or prohibit careers
collaborations and partnerships with arms companies
viii. Build a campaign with other organisations to challenge arms
companies being invited into schools and colleges
ix. Continue to develop resources and advice for members in schools to
raise awareness about the situation in Palestine including guidance
for those working on the ‘Disarm Education’ campaign
x. Demand the charges against Chris Nineham and Ben Jamal are
dropped
xi. Demand an independent inquiry into policing on 18 January and the
repeal of the Public Order Act
xii. Work with other unions and organisations to campaign against the
ethnic cleansing of Gaza, and the attack on the West Bank.

This policy informs the NEU’s work on Palestine. Read here Daniel Kebede’s supporting statement on the above motion:

https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/palestine-motion

Read here for statement and advice on Palestine Action:

https://neu.org.uk/latest/news/statement-palestine-action

Actions and resources

The NEU Left organised a webinar for educators on 23rd May: how can educators respond? You can see the recording here:Links and resources shared in the NEU Left meeting ‘Palestine Matters: how can educators respond?’