In a historic gathering, the Global Alliance for Palestine (GAFP) held its inaugural conference on Saturday 26 July in London, bringing together delegates from 25 countries representing, grassroots solidarity movements and campaigns as well as political and community leaders from around the world, all committed to strengthening the international struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice, and national liberation.
The launch of the GAFP comes at a critical and urgent moment, as Israel intensifies its genocidal actions and starvation tactics against the people of Gaza. In response, the alliance will serve as a central coordinating body, bringing together global efforts, building unity to confront Israel’s atrocities and advance the cause of Palestinian self-determination.
The conference featured prominent speakers who stressed the urgent need for unified strategy and coordinated global action. The opening and closing plenaries featured Chair of the GAFP Steering Committee, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn MP alongside Steering Committee member Dr Mustafa Barghouti (Palestine). The Conference heard video messages of support from Steering Committee members Gerry Adams (former president of Sinn Féin), Prof Yanis Varoufakis (Greece), Hon. Peter David (Grenada), Ronnie Kasrils (South Africa) and Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla (India). There were also important contributions from Revd. Frank Chikane (South Africa) and Deputy Angelo Bonelli (Italy).
Their contributions highlighted the critical importance of coordinated action and unified strategies in the face of escalating injustice.
“The brutality unfolding in Gaza demands an unequivocal response from the international community,” stated Dr Mustafa Barghouti, a leading Palestinian political figure. “The Global Alliance for Palestine represents a crucial step towards unifying our efforts and ensuring that the calls for justice and an end to the occupation resonate globally. We must translate solidarity into tangible action, relentlessly challenging the impunity that allows such atrocities to continue and working towards true national liberation.”
Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the moral obligation to act. “Today marks a pivotal moment in the fight for Palestinian rights. The sheer scale of human suffering in Gaza is unconscionable. The Global Alliance for Palestine will serve as a vital platform to coordinate our actions, to demand accountability, and to work relentlessly for a just and lasting peace rooted in self-determination for the Palestinian people. Silence is not an option when faced with such injustice; our unified voice will be a force for change.”
In a powerful closing statement, the conference issued a united call for an International Day of Action for Gaza on September 6th 2025, which delegates agreed should be marked all over the world and across all time zones.
Dr Anas Altikriti, Chair of GAFP Preparatory Committee and the conference convenor outlined the next steps of the alliance, including the formation of an interim Executive Committee, and mobilizing movements and communities from across the globe in an unprecedented show of unity, seeking to turn solidarity into a collective force to end Israel’s illegal occupation and advance the just cause of the liberation of Palestine.
