For 20 months Israel has devastated Gaza – killing over 54,000 Palestinians including more than 15,000 children, destroying over 90% of housing, and damaging or destroying over 90% of hospitals. None of this was enough to make you act to impose meaningful sanctions and a full arms embargo. None of this was a red line to end the treatment of Israel as a democratic ally with whom Britain should maintain normal relations. No red line was crossed for you when Israel ignored the measures imposed upon it in Jan 2024 by the ICJ to prevent genocide. No red line when the ICJ ruled in July 2024 on the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and told states not to render aid or assistance to maintain that illegality. No red line in November 2024 when the ICC issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yaev Galant for crimes against humanity including using starvation as a weapon of war.
Israel’s breaking of the ceasefire agreement, renewal of military assault and imposition of a full blockade on Gaza cutting off all food water and essential supplies in March finally brought a change in your rhetoric and that of your Foreign Secretary. He described the blockade as “intolerable”, as “morally wrong, unjustifiable” and something that “needs to stop.” He described statements by an Israeli Government minister, endorsed by Benjamin Netanyahu, that Israel’s intention was to destroy what is left of Gaza and force Palestinians to leave as “repellent” and “monstrous”. But still, for you, not a red line that would require the imposition of meaningful sanctions and a full arms embargo. Indeed, just hours after David Lammy ended his condemnation of Israel’s actions, an RAF plane took off from Akrotiri Base in Cyprus to fly over Gaza to provide intelligence for the IDF. Having announced a suspension of new Trade talks, you then sent your Trade envoy to Tel Aviv to promote UK-Israel trade.
Right now, 290,000 Palestinians are on the brink of starvation. 70,000 Palestinian children, the majority aged between 1 month and 2 years, have been treated for acute malnutrition.
So, we ask you this: where is the red line if it is not starving children?
We call on thousands to join us on June 4th at 1130 as you prepare for your first Prime Minister’s Questions since the recess. We will bring to Parliament the red line you seem unable to locate and demand sanctions and a full arms embargo now.
We will not allow you to try to make us all complicit in these crimes against humanity.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Palestinian Forum in Britain
Friends of Al-Aqsa
Stop the War Coalition
Muslim Association of Britain
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament