The Trades Union Congress (TUC), representing over 5.3 million UK workers, has unanimously backed a motion formally endorsing the Palestinian-led BDS campaign. The resolution calls for campaigns to end military cooperation and arms sales to Israel, urges broad sanctions, and pledges trade-union solidarity with Palestinians. While Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has banned imports from settlements and condemned settler violence, he remains opposed to BDS, prompting unions and solidarity groups to press for stronger government action.
UK Trades Union Congress Unanimously Backs BDS Motion Calling For Boycott and Sanctions On Israel
People hold up flags and light flares near Knightsbridge, London, during the 78th Nakba anniversary march on May 16, 2026 [Brook Mitchell/Getty Images]
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), the umbrella body representing more than 5.3 million workers across the United Kingdom, has unanimously passed a motion calling for an end to what delegates described as the TUC's complicity in Israel's military operations in Gaza and in settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The vote, taken during the TUC's annual conference in Brighton, marks the first time the congress has formally endorsed the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
The motion, tabled by Artists' Union England, urges the TUC to take a range of actions including campaigning to end military cooperation and arms deals with Israel, pressing the UK government to impose broad sanctions, and backing trade union-led solidarity campaigns for Palestinian rights.
"It's essential for the trade union movement to answer the call from the BDS movement, to challenge all complicity and to use our collective powers, to stand shoulder to shoulder with Palestinians to Free Palestine," said Zita Holborne of Artists' Union England, which tabled the motion.
Omar Barghouti, a co-founder of the BDS movement, welcomed the decision and said it reflected growing public solidarity with Palestine. He argued, however, that current government measures are insufficient and called for continued expansion of BDS efforts.
The motion—and the public statements that followed—adds pressure on the UK government to take stronger action in response to Israeli operations in Gaza and reported settler attacks in the West Bank. Last week, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements, which are widely regarded as illegal under international law. In Parliament, Miliband condemned what he called "settler terrorists" and accused some settlers of actions amounting to "ethnic cleansing" in parts of the West Bank.
At the same time, Miliband reiterated his opposition to BDS, saying he "wholeheartedly" opposes the campaign and emphasised that the UK will continue to support legitimate trade with Israel that complies with international law.
Peter Leary, deputy director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, described the TUC vote as a "tipping point," saying trade unions could help drive meaningful government action to end military, diplomatic and economic support for actions they view as unlawful.
Al Jazeera contacted the Trades Union Congress and the UK government for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
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