Sam Rose, Director of Planning at UNRWA, provides a frontline assessment of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and reflects on the immense challenges facing humanitarian organisations operating in the territory.

Drawing on his experience working in Gaza between early 2024 and March 2025, Rose examines the realities facing civilians after nearly three years of conflict, the pressures on humanitarian agencies, and the wider political context shaping the crisis.

The session explores:

• The continuing humanitarian emergency in Gaza despite the reduction in large-scale hostilities.

• The role of UNRWA and the challenges it faces in maintaining services under political, operational and financial pressure.

• Conditions experienced by displaced Palestinians, including shelter, sanitation, water and food insecurity.

• The long-term impact of displacement and the cumulative effects of years of conflict on Gaza's population.

• Public health concerns, including disease outbreaks, malnutrition, environmental hazards and the collapse of basic infrastructure.

• The difficulties humanitarian agencies face in delivering assistance and restoring essential services.

• The importance of education and the efforts made to return children to learning despite extraordinary obstacles.

• The humanitarian consequences of territorial restrictions, displacement and loss of access to agricultural land and resources.

• The pressures facing international NGOs, UN agencies and humanitarian workers operating in Gaza.

• The relationship between humanitarian conditions and the broader political realities of occupation, sovereignty and self-determination.

Rose argues that while humanitarian organisations continue to provide essential support, the crisis cannot be understood solely through a humanitarian lens. He emphasises that the conditions facing Palestinians are rooted in broader political questions relating to rights, accountability, self-determination and international law.

He also reflects on the resilience of Gaza's population, describing efforts by families, teachers, healthcare workers and humanitarian staff to maintain daily life and essential services despite extraordinary hardship.

The presentation concludes with a warning that the consequences of policies and practices tested in Gaza may have implications far beyond Palestine, making accountability and international legal protections increasingly important for humanitarian work worldwide.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

Sam Rose is Director of Planning at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He has worked extensively on humanitarian operations, emergency response and development programmes across the Middle East and has spent significant periods based in Gaza. Through his work with UNRWA, he has become a leading voice on the humanitarian situation facing Palestinian refugees and the challenges confronting international relief efforts in Gaza and the wider occupied Palestinian territory.

Professor Nick Maynard, consultant surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals and one of the UK's most experienced medical volunteers in Gaza, delivers a stark and deeply personal account of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the territory.

Drawing on multiple medical missions to Gaza, Maynard combines frontline observations with data from international organisations, medical journals and humanitarian agencies to illustrate the scale of civilian suffering, the collapse of healthcare infrastructure and the challenges facing Gaza's future recovery.

In this presentation, Professor Maynard discusses:

• The human cost of the war in Gaza, including civilian casualties, child deaths, injuries and displacement.

• The impact of mass casualty events on Gaza's hospitals and medical staff.

• First-hand experiences treating patients suffering severe blast injuries and trauma.

• The destruction of healthcare facilities and the targeting of hospitals and medical personnel.

• The detention, treatment and deaths of healthcare workers during the conflict.

• Medical evidence relating to patterns of injuries seen among civilians.

• The effects of malnutrition, starvation and restrictions on humanitarian supplies.

• The challenges of medical evacuation, rehabilitation and long-term healthcare recovery.

• The response of governments, institutions and the international medical community to the crisis.

Alongside statistics and analysis, Maynard shares the stories of individual patients, colleagues and families he encountered while working in Gaza, highlighting both the devastating human consequences of the conflict and the resilience of Palestinian healthcare workers operating under extraordinary conditions.

The presentation concludes with reflections on the urgent humanitarian needs facing Gaza, the scale of reconstruction required and the determination of medical professionals who continue to provide care despite immense personal risk.

This recording was made at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

Professor Nick Maynard is a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Surgery at the University of Oxford. He has undertaken multiple humanitarian medical missions to Gaza and is a prominent advocate for the protection of healthcare workers, patients and medical facilities in conflict zones. Through his clinical work and public advocacy, he has become one of the most prominent British medical voices documenting the humanitarian consequences of the war in Gaza.

Journalist, political analyst and former Palestinian government spokesperson Nour Odeh examines the growing gap between changing global public opinion on Palestine and the slower pace of political change among governments and international institutions.

Reflecting on developments since the UK's recognition of Palestine, Odeh argues that while public awareness of Palestinian rights, occupation and displacement has grown significantly, mainstream political responses continue to lag behind public sentiment and international legal standards.

The session explores:

• The significance and limitations of the UK's recognition of Palestine.

• The contrast between changing public attitudes and established political positions in Western governments.

• The relationship between recognition, international law and practical political action.

• Debates surrounding settlements, occupation and accountability under international law.

• The role of international institutions, including the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice.

• The influence of media coverage and changing information environments on public understanding of Palestine.

• Why public opinion has shifted significantly in favour of Palestinian rights across many countries.

• The growing role of civil society, grassroots movements and younger generations in shaping debate.

• The challenges of translating public sympathy into meaningful policy change.

• Palestinian perspectives on justice, freedom, equality and decolonisation.

Odeh reflects on how Palestinians have experienced the disconnect between official political narratives and public reactions around the world, arguing that many people have increasingly rejected traditional gatekeepers of information and sought alternative ways to understand events in Palestine.

She also discusses the importance of solidarity movements, human rights organisations and grassroots activism, suggesting that growing public engagement is creating new forms of pressure on political leaders and institutions.

Returning to the conference theme, Recognition is the Beginning, Odeh argues that recognition alone is insufficient unless accompanied by concrete measures that uphold international law, protect human rights and advance Palestinian freedom and self-determination.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

Nour Odeh is a Palestinian political analyst, journalist and former government spokesperson. She previously served as spokesperson for the Palestinian government and has worked extensively in international media, diplomacy and public affairs. A respected commentator on Palestinian politics, regional affairs and international diplomacy, she regularly contributes analysis to major international broadcasters and publications and is widely recognised for her work on Palestinian rights, governance and public opinion.

Political analyst and public opinion researcher Dr Dahlia Scheindlin examines how Israelis and Palestinians have responded to the events of recent years and what polling data reveals about attitudes towards war, diplomacy, coexistence and the future of the conflict.

Drawing on decades of joint Israeli-Palestinian public opinion research conducted with Palestinian pollster Dr Khalil Shikaki, Scheindlin explores both the striking parallels and significant differences that have emerged in public attitudes on either side of the conflict.

The session explores:

• Long-term trends in Israeli and Palestinian public opinion regarding diplomacy, conflict and political solutions.

• How attitudes shifted following the events of October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza.

• Changes in support for political actors, armed groups and military responses among both populations.

• Israeli public attitudes towards the war in Gaza, ceasefire proposals and hostage negotiations.

• The extent of fear, mistrust and dehumanisation that has developed between Israelis and Palestinians.

• Trends in support for a two-state solution and what these shifts may indicate about future political possibilities.

• The relationship between public opinion and government policy in Israel.

• Generational differences within Israeli society and how younger voters view the conflict.

• Israeli perceptions of changing international attitudes towards Israel and Palestine.

• The potential influence of shifting global public opinion on future policymaking.

Dr Scheindlin highlights the ways in which trauma, insecurity and prolonged conflict have shaped public opinion on both sides, often producing similar patterns of fear, hardening attitudes and declining confidence in diplomatic solutions.

At the same time, she examines areas where public opinion diverges from political leadership and discusses the complex relationship between changing public attitudes, media narratives and policy decisions.

The presentation concludes by considering how international opinion, political activism and evolving public discourse may shape future debates around Israel, Palestine and the prospects for peace.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

Dr Dahlia Scheindlin is a political analyst, public opinion researcher and writer specialising in Israeli politics, Israeli-Palestinian relations and democratic governance. She has advised international organisations, governments and civil society groups and is widely recognised for her work analysing public opinion trends across Israel and Palestine. Dr Scheindlin is the author of The Crooked Timber of Democracy in Israel and a frequent commentator in international media on Israeli politics, conflict and peacebuilding.

Journalist and commentator Max Rodenbeck examines shifting attitudes towards Palestine and Israel across the United States, Europe, the Arab world and Jewish communities internationally. Drawing on recent polling, media coverage and political developments, he explores how public understanding of the conflict has evolved and what challenges remain in translating opinion into political action.

The session explores:

• Major shifts in public opinion on Palestine and Israel since 2023.

• Recent developments in the United States and changing attitudes within political, media and cultural circles.

• The role of media coverage and high-profile political controversies in shaping public perceptions.

• Changes in public opinion across Europe, including Germany and Italy.

• Growing international awareness of concepts such as the Nakba and public debates surrounding Israeli government policies.

• Global polling data measuring perceptions of Israel and wider international attitudes towards the conflict.

• Trends within American public opinion, including generational and political differences.

• Public opinion across the Arab world and the broader regional impact of the war in Gaza.

• Evolving attitudes among Jewish communities, particularly in the United States.

• The gap between public opinion and political decision-making in democratic systems.

Rodenbeck argues that public understanding of Palestine has broadened significantly, with issues that were once confined to specialist discussions now entering mainstream political and cultural debate. He highlights the growing visibility of Palestinian narratives and the increasing scrutiny being applied to government policies and international responses.

At the same time, he cautions that changes in public opinion do not automatically translate into political action. While polling suggests significant shifts in attitudes across multiple countries, he notes that political influence, institutional power and policymaking often move much more slowly than public sentiment.

The presentation concludes with a discussion of the challenges facing campaigners, advocates and policymakers seeking to turn changing public awareness into meaningful political change.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

Max Rodenbeck is a journalist, author and former Middle East correspondent and bureau chief for The Economist. He has reported extensively from across the Middle East for more than three decades and is widely regarded as one of the leading commentators on the region's politics, history and international relations. His work has focused on Palestine, Israel, Egypt and the wider Arab world, and he is the author of several acclaimed books on Middle Eastern politics and society.

Dr Anne Irfan argues that recognition of Palestine must extend beyond the territory of the West Bank and Gaza to include the rights, experiences and political agency of Palestinians worldwide, particularly the millions living as refugees.

Drawing on historical research into Palestinian displacement, refugee camps and the history of UNRWA, Dr Irfan explores how the Nakba continues not only through the loss of land, but also through efforts to fragment Palestinian identity and marginalise Palestinian voices in international discourse.

The session explores:

• Why recognition of Palestine should include recognition of all Palestinians, including refugees and diaspora communities.

• The concept of the Nakba as an ongoing process rather than a single historical event.

• The displacement of Palestinians during 1948 and the creation of one of the world's largest refugee populations.

• The importance of the right of return and its place in international law and Palestinian political identity.

• Early international responses to Palestinian refugees and the ways in which Palestinian identity was often obscured or depoliticised.

• The history of Palestinian refugee camps as centres of political organisation, community life and national consciousness.

• The origins and evolution of UNRWA and its relationship with Palestinian refugee communities.

• Palestinian resistance to efforts aimed at permanent resettlement outside Palestine.

• The central role of education in Palestinian refugee communities and national identity.

• Contemporary refugee activism, including campaigns centred on the right of return and solidarity across the Palestinian diaspora.

Dr Irfan highlights the ways in which Palestinian refugees have consistently asserted their political agency, challenged attempts to erase their identity and maintained connections to Palestine across generations. She argues that refugee communities have played a central role in shaping Palestinian political history and continue to do so today.

The presentation concludes by examining the relevance of refugee history to current events in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, and by arguing that meaningful recognition must encompass the full Palestinian people, wherever they live.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

Dr Anne Irfan is a historian of the modern Middle East and Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Race, Gender and Postcolonial Studies at University College London. Her research focuses on Palestinian history, refugee communities, international organisations and the politics of displacement. She is the author of Refuge and Resistance: Palestinians and the International Refugee System and is widely recognised for her work on the history of UNRWA, Palestinian refugees and the global dimensions of the Palestinian struggle.

Renowned historian Professor Avi Shlaim examines Britain's historic role in Palestine, the legacy of the Balfour Declaration, and the continuing impact of British policy on Palestinian self-determination.

Tracing the roots of the conflict through the late Ottoman period, the British Mandate and the creation of Israel, Shlaim argues that Britain played a central role in shaping the political conditions that led to the dispossession of Palestinians and continues to bear responsibility for the consequences today.

The talk explores:

• Britain's role in supporting the Zionist movement during the Mandate period.

• The significance and legacy of the 1917 Balfour Declaration.

• The suppression of Palestinian political representation and resistance under British rule.

• The Palestinian Revolt of 1936–39 and its long-term consequences.

• The Nakba of 1948 as part of a broader historical process rather than a single event.

• The work of the Britain Owes Palestine campaign and its efforts to seek acknowledgement, accountability and reparations from the British government.

• Britain's contemporary political, military and diplomatic relationship with Israel.

• The destruction of civilian, educational and cultural infrastructure in Gaza.

• Ongoing debates around international law, accountability and the recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Professor Shlaim reflects on more than a century of British involvement in Palestine and argues that meaningful recognition of Palestinian rights requires more than symbolic gestures. He contends that acknowledgement of historical responsibility must be accompanied by practical political action and a commitment to accountability.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

Professor Avi Shlaim is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford and one of Israel's leading "New Historians". His groundbreaking research on the Arab-Israeli conflict, Zionism, British policy in Palestine and the creation of Israel has challenged many established historical narratives. He is the author of numerous influential works, including The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew and Genocide in Gaza: Israel's Long War on Palestine.

Historian, author and Britain Palestine Project patron William Dalrymple opens the Recognition is the Beginning conference with a sweeping exploration of Palestinian history, identity and Britain’s historic role in the region.

Drawing on archaeology, genetics, historical records and personal testimony, Dalrymple challenges narratives that deny Palestinian continuity and traces the story of Palestine from the Bronze Age to the present day. Beginning with the story of the village of Isdud (modern-day Ashdod), he examines how communities endured for millennia before being displaced during the Nakba of 1948.

The keynote explores:

• The historical continuity of Palestinian communities over more than 3,000 years.

• Archaeological and genetic evidence linking modern Palestinians to ancient Levantine populations.

• The shared ancestral heritage of Palestinians and many Israeli Jews.

• The origins and enduring history of the name “Palestine” from the Bronze Age to today.

• Palestine’s role as a centre of trade, culture, religion and scholarship throughout antiquity and the medieval world.

• The impact of the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate on Palestinian self-determination.

• Britain’s historic and contemporary responsibilities regarding Palestine.

• Why recognition of Palestine is only a starting point and must be accompanied by meaningful action.

Dalrymple argues that understanding the depth of Palestinian history is essential to understanding the present crisis and to building a future based on justice, accountability and equal rights. He concludes by reflecting on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the importance of transforming recognition into practical support for Palestinian self-determination.

This keynote was recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

William Dalrymple is an award-winning historian, broadcaster and bestselling author whose books include The Anarchy, The Last Mughal, White Mughals and From the Holy Mountain. He is co-host of the hugely popular Empire podcast and a patron of the Britain Palestine Project. His current research focuses on the history of Palestine from the Neolithic period to the Nakba.

H.E. Mr Manar Dabbas, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Kingdom, reflects on developments since the UK's recognition of the State of Palestine and examines the wider regional implications of the ongoing conflict.

Ambassador Dabbas discusses the humanitarian situation in Gaza, growing pressures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the importance of pursuing a just and lasting peace based on international law, accountability and a viable two-state solution.

The session explores:

• The significance of UK recognition of the State of Palestine and the diplomatic efforts that helped secure it.

• Conditions in Gaza following the ceasefire and the challenges facing reconstruction and recovery.

• The impact of prolonged conflict on Palestinian children, education and future prospects.

• Settlement expansion, land confiscation and violence in the occupied West Bank.

• The E1 settlement plan and its implications for the viability of a future Palestinian state.

• Economic pressures facing Palestinian institutions and governance structures.

• The situation in Jerusalem, including concerns relating to Muslim and Christian holy sites.

• The role of international law and recent international legal developments.

• Jordan's longstanding commitment to a negotiated peace and regional stability.

• The challenges facing the two-state solution and the broader consequences for the Middle East.

Ambassador Dabbas argues that lasting peace requires addressing the underlying causes of conflict, including occupation, displacement and the erosion of prospects for Palestinian statehood. He contends that regional stability and Israeli security are ultimately dependent upon achieving a just political settlement accepted by both peoples.

Returning to the conference theme, Recognition is the Beginning, he emphasises that recognition must be accompanied by greater awareness, accountability and practical action if it is to contribute to a durable peace.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

H.E. Mr Manar Dabbas is the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Kingdom. Throughout his diplomatic career he has worked extensively on regional affairs, international cooperation and Middle East peace efforts. Jordan has played a longstanding role in supporting a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for international law, regional stability and a two-state solution based on mutual recognition, peace and security.

H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, reflects on the significance of UK recognition of the State of Palestine while arguing that recognition must be followed by meaningful action to uphold international law and Palestinian self-determination.

Drawing on his recent visit to the occupied Palestinian territory, Ambassador Zomlot describes the realities facing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, outlines the diplomatic progress achieved in recent years, and sets out what he believes governments must do to turn recognition into lasting change.

In this session, Ambassador Zomlot discusses:

• Current developments in the occupied West Bank, including settlement expansion, displacement and annexation.

• The continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its impact on Palestinian families and communities.

• The history of Palestinian diplomacy and international efforts to achieve a just peace.

• The significance of UK recognition of Palestine and its historical context.

• Growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood and changing global public opinion.

• The role of civil society, human rights organisations and international solidarity movements.

• The importance of accountability, international law and multilateral institutions.

• Practical measures governments can take to support Palestinian rights and uphold legal obligations.

Ambassador Zomlot argues that the Palestinian cause has become part of a wider global movement for justice, equality and human rights, and suggests that growing international support presents an opportunity to advance meaningful political change.

While welcoming recognition as an important milestone, he emphasises that recognition alone is insufficient without concrete steps to enforce international law, address humanitarian needs and create the conditions for Palestinian freedom and self-determination.

Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.

H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot is the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and one of Palestine's most prominent diplomats. He has previously served as Head of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mission to the United States and as Strategic Affairs Advisor to the Palestinian leadership. A leading advocate for Palestinian rights, diplomacy and international engagement, he works extensively with governments, civil society organisations and international institutions to advance Palestinian self-determination and a just and lasting peace.