Leading UK rights organizations called on the new Labour government in a joint letter Thursday to take immediate action to cease the United Kingdom’s complicity in what they term as Israel’s ongoing atrocity crimes against Palestinians. Addressing newly-appointed Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Foreign Secretary, and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the letter demands an end to the UK’s arms sales to Israel, urging the government to prioritize international law and human rights, and calling on the UK to “end its complicity with Israel’s war crimes”.
Legal groups like GLAN (Global Legal Action Network) and Al-Haq are at the forefront of this plea. They previously challenged the outgoing government’s decisions in the High Court, emphasizing that Labour must now disavow past policies and align with international legal standards.
In stark terms, the letter describes the dire conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza, referring to their situation as “hell on earth.” It emphasizes that the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in over 38,000 Palestinian deaths and nearly 88,000 injuries, constitutes a gross violation of human rights and could be classified as genocide. The organizations argue this necessitates an immediate cessation of arms supplies to Israel, pointing out that continued support contravenes both moral and legal obligations under international law.
The letter arrives on the heels of Prime Minister Starmer’s hopeful proclamation that the “sunlight of hope was shining once again,” suggesting an opportunity for substantial change after Labour took charge of the UK after 14 years under Conservative leadership, which the signatories argue has severely tarnished the UK’s international credibility. Seizing this moment, the rights organizations assert that the Labour government has the chance to restore the UK’s standing by halting its support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The call to action is bolstered by recent reports from Northern Gaza describing extensive bombing, almost unprecedented since World War II, leading to the almost complete destruction of civilian infrastructure. Starvation and displacement are widespread, with the World Health Organization warning that “everyone in Gaza” is at risk of severe illness, famine, and death due to the dire conditions.
This all comes amidst an ongoing case in which said groups filed a legal challenge with the UK’s High Court in December 2023 calling for the government to stop granting licenses for weapons exports to Israel. Further last month The UK High Court granted Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Oxfam permission to join the legal case to halt UK arms sales to Israel, with the case expected to be heard in October 2024.
