Expert rights organisations have signed a joint call on the new UK government to fulfil their legal and moral obligations to uphold international law and stop arms exports to Israel.

11.07.24: A letter, sent by six rights organisations to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, is calling for an immediate halt to arms exports to Israel.

Al-Haq and Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), with the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), War on Want, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and Palestine Solidarity Campaign have written to the government demanding immediate action to end UK complicity in Israel’s ongoing atrocity crimes, including genocide.

The letter makes clear the UK’s domestic and international legal obligations to halt the export of military equipment and weapons to a state accused of war crimes, supported by reference to recent evidence of widespread manufactured famine and the ongoing grave violations of international law that Israel is committing in Gaza. This week WHO declared “Everyone in Gaza” is now “at risk of getting sick and dying” and we now know that a minimum of 38,193 Palestinians have been killed and 87,903 Palestinians injured in Gaza; over 20,000 children have been killed by Israel, or are still missing, with these horrifying numbers increasing every day. The Lancet now warns that the number of Palestinians killed could reach 186,000 people.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously called on his predecessor David Cameron to publish the government’s legal advice on UK arms exports, “Given the gravity of the situation in Gaza, the degree of public and parliamentary interest and the risks to the credibility of the UK’s export controls regime, there is a compelling case to publish the government’s legal advice,” Lammy wrote in a letter to Lord Cameron, the former foreign secretary.

We now urge this government to put these words into action.

GLAN and Al-Haq are already bringing a case against the previous government’s decision-making before the High Court of England and Wales and we will pursue accountability for any future decisions which continue the sale and export of weapons or military equipment to Israel that may be used in the ongoing violations of international law. As part of this ongoing litigation Al-Haq and GLAN are today sending an additional legal letter to the government requesting disclosure of the legal advice Mr Lammy has previously stated should be released.

Shawan Jabarin, General Director of  Al-Haq said, “The people of the United Kingdom have been clear and consistent in their calls for an end to Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people. We hope that with this stark change in government, and the promise it brings, the public’s demands to see a Palestine free from Israeli settler colonialism, apartheid and genocide will finally be heard. The UK must end the supply of arms to Israel, use all means to end Israel's aggression on Gaza and across the occupied territory, and work to ensure the full realisation of the collective rights to self-determination and return, of the Palestinian people as a whole.”

GLAN Lawyer, Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe said, “The new Labour government’s calls for a ceasefire are meaningless while it continues to arm Israel. British weapons have killed too many Palestinians. This government knows that the only lawful and moral decision is to stop arming Israel. They also know that they have an obligation under the Genocide Convention to use every tool at their disposal to prevent the commission of genocide. Britons have voted for change: this government must deliver that change.”

CAAT’s Media Coordinator, Emily Apple said, “Labour promised in its manifesto that it “would be a defender of international law”. Now it needs to put that commitment into action by imposing an immediate arms embargo. For nine long months, the previous government prioritised arms dealers’ profits, ignored horrific war crimes, and treated Palestinian lives with contempt. There are no excuses. This has to change.”

Peter Leary, Deputy Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said, "For over nine months, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been subjected to Israel’s ongoing genocide with the shameful complicity of the government, supported by the Labour Party leadership. Now in power, Keir Starmer and David Lammy must immediately end all arms trade with Israel to ensure Britain ceases to aid and abet Israel's crimes."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The full text of the letter is available here

Spokespeople from each organisation are available for further comment and interview.

Al-Haq is an independent Palestinian non-governmental human rights organisation based in Ramallah, West Bank. It was established in 1979 to protect and promote human rights and the rule of law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the organisation has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Al-Haq documents violations of the individual and collective rights of Palestinians in the OPT and in doing so it conducts research; prepares reports, studies and interventions on breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law in the OPT; and undertakes advocacy before local, regional and international bodies. For its work protecting and promoting human rights, Al Haq has been awarded numerous international awards. alhaq.org

Contact Abbi Casey [email protected] for Al-Haq interview requests

Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) is a U.K.-based legal non-profit organisation with offices in the U.K. and Ireland. GLAN works with affected communities to pursue innovative legal actions across borders to challenge powerful actors involved in human rights violations and systemic injustice. glanlaw.org  Contact: Abbi Casey [email protected]

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law. The ICJP’s principal objective is to coordinate and support legal work which supports the rights of Palestinians in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the wider diaspora. icjpalestine.com

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based organisation working to end the international arms trade. The arms business has a devastating impact on human rights and security, and damages economic development. In seeking to end the arms trade, CAAT’s priorities are to stop the procurement or export of arms where they might exacerbate conflict or support an oppressive regime, and to promote progressive demilitarisation within arms-producing countries. caat.org.uk Contact: Emily Apple [email protected]

War on Want is a charitable membership organisation of people who are committed to social justice. Our vision is a world free from poverty and oppression, based on social justice, equality and human rights for all. War on Want works in partnership with grassroots social movements, trade unions and workers’ organisations to empower people to fight for their rights. We run hard-hitting popular campaigns against the root causes of poverty and human rights violations.www.waronwant.org

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) works to support the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, justice and equality and against apartheid, military occupation and colonisation. We are the biggest organisation in Britain dedicated to securing Palestinian rights and bring together people from all walks of life to work towards our goals. palestinecampaign.org Contact: [email protected]