Adala UK stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine and Western Sahara, both of whom continue to endure brutal occupations, systematic human rights abuses, and the failure of the international community to uphold justice and international law.

Adala UK, a UK-based NGO, documents human rights abuses against the Saharawi people in Western Sahara. Raise awareness internationally and push governments to pressure Morocco to stop these violations and respect Saharawi self-determination. Our work links the Saharawi struggle to broader global fights against occupation., from Laayoune to Gaza.

Today, as Palestinians in Gaza suffer a genocide carried out by the Israeli state and enabled by powerful allies, we cannot remain silent. The recent veto by the United States at the UN Security Council — blocking a resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire, and the lifting of humanitarian aid restrictions — is a shameful act of complicity. It is a moral failure that grants Israel impunity to continue starving, bombing, and killing civilians with complete disregard for international law. The text, co-sponsored by Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia – collectively known as the E-10 – received 14 votes in favour, with the US casting the lone vote against.

The horror in Gaza is unimaginable: children dying from starvation and lack of medical care, entire families buried under rubble, and parents forced to watch their children waste away for lack of food and clean water. The United States’ unconditional military and political support for Israel makes it a central actor in this manmade catastrophe. As the occupying power, Israel is obligated under international law to protect the civilian population and ensure access to food and medical aid. It has utterly failed to do so. Instead, it weaponizes hunger and restricts aid in violation of the Genocide Convention.

Similarly, in Western Sahara, the Moroccan state continues to repress the Saharawi population through violent crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and suppression of freedom of expression. The UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), unlike any other UN peacekeeping operation, has no mandate to monitor human rights — a direct result of France’s persistent veto and protection of Morocco’s interests within the Security Council. France’s role has been critical in maintaining the status quo, shielding Moroccan authorities from accountability and enabling their repression of Saharawi voices.

This parallel injustice — the use of veto power by permanent Security Council members like the US and France to protect their strategic allies — exposes the undemocratic nature of international decision-making and erodes any remaining credibility in the international system’s commitment to human rights.

Adala UK calls on the British public, civil society organisations, and international human rights defenders to unite in demanding justice for both Palestinians and Saharawis. We call for:

• An immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the lifting of all humanitarian restrictions.
• An end to arms sales to Israel and Morocco, which contribute to the repression of civilians in both Palestine and Western Sahara.
• Full accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including at the International Criminal Court.
• The establishment of a human rights monitoring mandate within MINURSO.
• Genuine international support for the right of both Palestinians and Sahrawis to self-determination and freedom from occupation.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. The struggle of the Palestinian and Saharawi peoples are not separate — they are part of a wider movement for decolonisation, dignity, and human rights. The world must not look away.

Adala UK
June 2025
www.adalauk.org
info@adalauk.org

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