Palestinian President Did Not Demand £2 Trillion After U.K. Recognition of Palestine

After the United Kingdom recognized the State of Palestine ahead of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, social media users widely circulated a baseless claim that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanded £2 trillion in reparations.

U.K. Officially Recognizes State of Palestine

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that Britain formally recognizes Palestine as an independent state, saying the move demonstrates the government’s commitment to peace and a response to mounting domestic political pressure.

Canada, Australia, France, and Portugal also declared their recognition of Palestine during the U.N. General Assembly conference in New York, underscoring international concern over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In a video address, Starmer stressed that the two-state solution was fading but must not be abandoned. “Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country, that the U.K. formally recognizes the state of Palestine,” he said.

Media Outlets and Social Media Claim Palestine Demanded £2 Trillion in Reparations

Following the United Kingdom’s recognition of the State of Palestine on September 21, claims began circulating in media outlets and across social media that the Palestinian Authority demanded £2 trillion in compensation from Britain.

The Sunday Guardian published an article reporting that Britain faces a £2 trillion reparation demand after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement. 

On social media, posts that amassed millions of views alleged that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had sought reparations equal to the size of the U.K.’s entire economy under international law.

Many users on X voiced alarm, describing the alleged demand as an “absolute disaster” for Britain.

Has Palestine Officially Asked the U.K. for Reparations?

Claims about a £2 trillion Palestinian reparation demand began circulating after the Daily Mail published a report headlined, “PM's decision to recognize a state of Palestine could lead to U.K. paying £2trillion in reparations.”

Other outlets, including The Express, reported the story while citing the Daily Mail.

However, the Daily Mail's report did not reference any official statement from the Palestinian Authority or the U.K. government. Instead, it cited legal experts who suggested that £2 trillion, the size of Britain's entire economy, could be considered “a good place to start,” according to the Daily Mail.

Misbar's team searched online for reports of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanding reparations from the United Kingdom and found no recent evidence to support this claim. 

Misbar's investigative team reviewed Abbas's full address to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2023, and found that he called for reparations, compensation, and an apology from Israel, the U.K., and the U.S. in line with international law for their role in the Palestinian tragedy and catastrophe.

Although Abbas mentioned reparations in that speech, delivered before the current war on Gaza, he did not repeat the demand or cite any figures in subsequent statements at the time of writing. 

On Monday, Abbas addressed the U.N. assembly via video conference after the U.S. denied visas to him and other members of the Palestinian delegation at the end of August.

Palestinians Draft Petition to U.K. Over Law Violations

A group of Palestinians filed a 400-page legal petition demanding that the U.K. take responsibility for “serial international law violations,” including war crimes committed during Britain’s occupation of Palestine between 1917 and 1948.

Drafted by human rights barristers, the petition cites “incontrovertible evidence” of Britain’s unlawful legacy, including the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the mandate period it says lacked legal basis, and the “systematic abuse” of Palestinians.

The filing, served on the U.K. government on September 7, launches the “Britain Owes Palestine campaign,” which calls for official acknowledgement, an apology, and reparations. The submission argues that Britain bears a distinct responsibility for the Palestinian people’s suffering, which it says continues today.

If the government fails to respond, the case could move to judicial review proceedings at the High Court in London.

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