British lawmaker expresses regret over the exclusion of Palestinians from providing oral evidence to a parliamentary committee investigating a contentious anti-Israel boycott bill.

Kim Leadbeater, a Labour MP, noted that only written evidence opposing the bill was submitted by organizations.

Leadbeater emphasized the importance of considering the objections raised by Palestinians, stating that the bill should not treat Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the occupied Golan Heights equally.

She questioned the commitment of London towards a two-state solution and adherence to international law principles by excluding Palestinian voices from the committee.

The proposed law, officially known as the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, aims to prevent local councils and public bodies from participating in the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

During the committee sessions, oral evidence was heard from lawyers, human rights organizations, Jewish community bodies, and pro-Israel groups, with no Palestinian witnesses present.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has called on the committee to reverse the exclusion of Palestinian voices.

In a press release, the PSC and 23 other civil society organizations formally requested that the committee listen to Palestinians and the BDS movement, who are directly affected by the anti-boycott bill.

The PSC condemned the exclusion of Palestinian voices despite the bill's focus on the use of boycotts as a means of international solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice.