Following reports that the Foreign Secretary has received legal advice that Israel has breached international humanitarian law, constituents have rightly got in touch to share their concerns on this and on the UK’s role in supplying arms to Israel.
I have long called for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages and full humanitarian access into Gaza. You can view my written questions on this and other matters here.
It is now six months since the appalling October 7th attack by Hamas on Israel, which killed 1200 and took hundreds hostage.
Since then, Israel’s campaign has led to intolerable death and destruction, with 33,000 Palestinians killed and more than a million facing the imminent prospect of famine.
It has long been clear that the only route to preventing further suffering is to stop the war now.
Far too many innocent people have died in this conflict and more than a million are facing starvation.
I have also been clear that the Government has a responsibility to take the numerous allegations made of serious breaches of international humanitarian law by Israeli forces incredibly seriously, particularly in light of the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel.
You can view my previous update on the UK’s sale of arms to Israel here.
Three months later, it cannot be right that the Foreign Secretary has now gone silent on the question of whether or not Israel is complying with international humanitarian law, after promising he’d get new advice nearly a month ago.
There are growing and very serious accusations that Israel has breached international law, which must be taken into account.
That’s why following the Attorney General’s visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in February, I used Attorney General Questions to highlight concerns raised with me by constituents and Medical Aid for Palestinians, regarding Israel’s continued failure to comply with the interim ruling issued by the International Court of Justice.
You can view my question and related actions on upholding international humanitarian law here.
The law is clear. The Foreign Secretary must uphold his responsibility to provide accurate and up to date legal advice to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to inform export licensing decisions.
British arms licenses cannot be granted if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
That’s why I have now written to the Foreign Secretary calling on him to share his legal advice and suspend arms sales to Israel if that advise indicates Israel is in breach of international law. You can read my letter in full here.
In light of the devastating deaths of seven aid workers, including three heroic British Nationals, the ICC’s investigation, the ICJ’s ruling and numerous statements by the UN, there is plausible evidence that the threshold for suspending arms license has been crossed.
I will continue using all parliamentary avenues available to me to continue to press the Government to face up to scrutiny and publish the legal advice now.
The death of three heroic British Nationals and other brave aid workers was devastating and shed further light on the brutality of this war. My deepest sympathies go out to the families of John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby who put their lives on the line to get Palestinian civilians the aid they desperately need.
Israel must face serious consequences, not just tough rhetoric, for their appalling deaths.
More broadly, I have continued to call on the Government to convene an urgent UN Security Council Meeting to bring international agreement to work towards an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. You can read my letter to the Minister for International Development on this matter here and recent update on my actions here.
The flow of aid into Gaza remains unacceptably restricted, reports of attacks on Gazan healthcare facilities are widespread, the situation in the West Bank has continued to worsen, and Israel continues to threaten an invasion of Rafah.
I will continue to highlight concerns raised with me by constituents and Medical Aid for Palestinians to lobby the Government to come together with our international partners to say enough is enough – we need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
