UK Parliamentary Appeal Urges Sanctions on Israel Over Gaza Conflict

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A coalition of over 80 British Members of Parliament from across party lines has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy to impose targeted sanctions on Israeli government ministers and institutions. The appeal reflects growing concern about alleged violations of international law in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. (Al Jazeera)

Under mounting domestic pressure, the UK government recently suspended free trade negotiations with Israel and announced sanctions on individual Israeli settler outposts and government officials—including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir. (Al Jazeera)

Concurrently, an open letter authored by more than 800 UK-based legal experts—including former Supreme Court justices, judges, and academic lawyers—has called on the government to take further legal action under the Genocide Convention, citing evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a serious risk of genocide in Gaza. They stressed that the UK has obligations under international law to “prevent and punish genocide,” and have deemed the current measures inadequate. (Al Jazeera)

These coordinated efforts reflect a broader push for the UK to:

  • Impose financial and travel bans on Israeli officials deemed responsible for unlawful conduct.
  • Suspend trade agreements and review defence cooperation.
  • Halt arms exports, including components for F‑35 aircraft used in military operations.
  • Enhance legal clarity on when genocide prevention must become a governmental obligation. (en.wikipedia.org, BBC, The National, en.wikipedia.org, The Guardian)

While the Labour government has taken steps—such as suspending select arms licenses in September 2024 and halting new trade talks—it has not fully endorsed a complete arms embargo. Critics argue that partial measures fall short of international legal standards. (en.wikipedia.org)

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