Dozens of MPs have now called on Labour to sanction Israel

More than 80 MPs and Lords from nine political parties have called on the British Government to impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel over its repeated violations of international law.

The UK must take action over Israel

The 84 parliamentarians have made the call in a letter to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, organised by MPs Richard Burgon and Imran Hussain. The letter marks the first anniversary of a landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world’s top court, that Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is “unlawful” and must end “as rapidly as possible”.

The letter calls on the UK Government to:

• Suspend the UK-Israel trade agreement until Israel complies with international law.
• Ban all trade in goods and services with illegal Israeli settlements.
• Impose targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes on all individuals and entities complicit in Israel’s occupation.
• End all arms transfers to Israel, including F-35 components, that can be used in violations of international humanitarian law.
• Conduct a full review of UK-Israel relations to ensure no support is given to violations of international law.

The demands are in line with the 19 July 2024 ruling of the International Court of Justice that said all States must “abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory”. The Court also said all States have an obligation to “take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the OPT.”

The letter highlights the British Government’s failure to respond meaningfully to the ICJ’s findings over the past year, despite the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the escalating violence in the West Bank.

The letter concludes that:

This is a moment to show that the UK’s stated commitment to international law and human rights is more than words. We urge you to act decisively and without delay.” It also contrasts the Government’s inaction on Israel with the robust sanctions regime against Russia.

‘War crime after war crime’

Richard Burgon MP who co-organised the letter said:

Israel is committing war crime after war crime. We don’t need more empty words from the Government calling on Israel to do the right thing. We need tough action to force Israel to end its atrocities against the Palestinian people. That means ending all arms sales and imposing widespread sanctions on Israel — just as were rightly imposed on Russia over Ukraine.

Imran Hussain MP who co-organised the letter said:

For a year, the Government has dragged its feet following the ruling from the world’s top court. It’s clear Israel will only end its genocide when governments take bold and decisive action in defence of international law. The International Court of Justice ruling makes it clear that the UK has a legal as well as a moral obligation to act. What is the Government waiting for? How many more Palestinians need to be killed or forced into starvation before our Government takes the action so desperately needed?

Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign Director, said:

21 months into Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians in Gaza and 1 year since the ICJ issued its historic ruling as to the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank including East Jerusalem, we are still wating for meaningful action from the UK Government. The sanctions demanded in this letter are the minimum required to ensure that the UK fulfils its obligations not to aid and abet these egregious violations of International law.

Featured image via the Canary