The situation in Gaza is catastrophic – but even from afar, we are not powerless. If you’re in the UK and wondering how to meaningfully support the Palestinian people, this guide outlines practical steps you can take.
This article uses terms such as apartheid and genocide in reference to the actions and policies of the Israeli state. These terms are not used lightly – they are based on findings and statements from internationally recognised bodies, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian territories and legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
Riot and Reason supports freedom of expression, responsible reporting and the right to hold governments accountable for human rights violations under international law. Criticism of a state’s actions is not criticism of a people, religion or ethnicity.
Donate to Charities Providing Humanitarian Aid
With aid currently being blocked or withheld at Israeli-controlled crossings, it’s important to support organisations that work with local networks or find alternative routes.
Sign Petitions
Petitions build pressure and remind governments that we are watching.
- Oxfam: “Gaza Crisis: Call for a permanent ceasefire”, addressed to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, with the message ‘I refuse to stand by and watch Palestinian and Israeli citizens pay the price for political failure.”
- Amnesty International: Demand an immediate ceasefire from all parties
- Save the Children – Stop the war on children
Write to your MP
Use www.writetothem.com to contact your local MP in under 5 minutes.
Here’s a stat that should be in every email: According to the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), Between October and December 2024 alone, the UK approved £127.6 million in military equipment sales to Israel – more than the total for 2022 and 2023 combined.
Demand accountability. Demand divestment.
Educate Yourself: Books and Film
The genocide in Gaza is shaped by over a century of history, politics and international involvement – including Britain’s own role. Much of this isn’t covered by mainstream education and media which makes independent learning so much more important.
Here is some trusted media to help you build a clearer picture of what is happening in Gaza.
Books:
- On Palestine by Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé
- The Balfour Declaration by Bernard Regan
- Arab and Jew: Wounded spirits in a promised land by David K.Shipler
Documentaries:
- The Iron Wall – Explores Israeli settlement expansion.
- Occupation 101 – Human-centred overview of life under occupation.
- The Tinderbox – Traces the conflict’s historical roots through lived experiences.
- Louis Theroux: The Settlers – a BBC 2 documentary. Fourteen years since his initial visit, Louis Theroux returns to the occupied West Bank to meet members of the expanding community of religious-nationalist Israelis who have made it their home.
Keep the Conversation Alive
Don’t let this fall out of your feed or your conversations. Keep it alive in group chats, classrooms, workplaces and even the awkward dinner tables.
We’re living through an age of compassion fatigue, where constant exposure to war, famine, and injustice makes people emotionally numb. Instead of feeling moved to act, we become overwhelmed or switch off entirely.
Your voice matters. Use it – persistently, uncomfortably and with purpose.
You don’t have to be Palestinian, an expert or an activist to care – just human. What is happening in Gaza is not far away or disconnected, and it’s not someone else’s responsibility. From arms sales and political policing to the companies we fund and the media we consume – the UK is part of the story.
The scale of injustice can feel overwhelming but silence is not an option.
We will never look away.
