UNITED KINGDOM: More than 800 legal experts, academics and retired judges in the UK have signed a letter urging the government to impose sanctions on Israel and initiate proceedings to suspend it from the United Nations.
The letter, addressed to the prime minister Keir Starmer, was signed by former Supreme Court justices Jonathan Sumption and Nicholas Wilson, along with Court of Appeal judges and more than 70 King’s Counsel.
The signatories welcomed last week’s joint statement by the UK, France and Canada, warning that they were prepared to take “concrete actions” against Israel. However, they stressed that this must now translate into urgent measures.
They wrote that “urgent and decisive action is required to avert the destruction of the Palestinian people of Gaza”, describing Israel’s actions as war crimes, crimes against humanity and serious breaches of international humanitarian law.
The letter highlights evidence of genocide, either ongoing or at serious risk of occurring. It cites recent remarks by Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who stated that the Israeli army would “wipe out” what remains of Palestinian Gaza.
It further urges the UK to uphold its legal duty to prevent genocide, ensure international humanitarian law is respected, and act to end violations of Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
“The UK’s actions to date have failed to meet those standards,” the letter states. “The international community’s failure… imperils the international legal system itself. Your government must act now, before it is too late.”
Death toll nears 54,100 as Gaza war enters 600th day
The letter comes amid growing international outrage over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which on 30 May reached its 600th day.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that 54,084 Palestinians have been killed and more than 123,308 injured since October 2023.
A humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with nearly half a million people facing catastrophic hunger, and all 2.1 million residents suffering food insecurity, illness, or displacement.
The legal experts argue that existing UK sanctions on Israeli settlers and outposts are insufficient. They call for financial and travel sanctions against Israeli ministers and senior military officials allegedly involved in incitement or support for illegal settlements.
They further recommend that the UK suspend negotiations with Israel on future trade arrangements and revoke its 2030 bilateral cooperation roadmap.
While foreign secretary David Lammy recently suspended new free trade talks with Israel, the signatories argue that this step falls short and must be followed by broader economic sanctions.
They also express alarm over what they describe as Israel’s “unparalleled assault” on the United Nations. This includes banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) from Gaza and targeting UN infrastructure and personnel.
Such actions, the letter argues, constitute a systemic challenge to the UN Charter and should prompt the UK, as a permanent Security Council member, to initiate proceedings to suspend Israel’s membership.
The letter also demands that the UK seek an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, press for renewed humanitarian aid access, and push for Israel’s ban on Unrwa to be lifted.
Finally, it calls on the government to confirm it will execute international criminal court arrest warrants against Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and former defence minister Yoav Gallant.
Netanyahu has rejected accusations of genocide, calling them “outrageous” and stating they are false. He added, “Decent people everywhere should reject it.”
Palestinian UN envoy weeps before Security Council as he recounts Gaza’s suffering children
On 28 May, Palestine’s UN ambassador Riyad Mansour broke down in tears at a Security Council meeting, describing the severe suffering of Gaza’s population.
He spoke of mothers grieving for their children and condemned global inaction as a moral failure. Mansour criticised double standards and demanded that Palestinians be treated equally under international law.
In response, Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon dismissed claims that Israeli troops fired at civilians during a US-led aid delivery. He blamed logistical issues for delayed aid and accused Palestinians of inciting unrest.
EU condemns Israeli operations and urges immediate resumption of large-scale humanitarian aid
International pressure has increased, including from Germany, one of Israel’s strongest allies.
On Monday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the scale of civilian suffering could “no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism.”
European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas also condemned Israel’s military conduct. She called the targeting of civilian infrastructure “unacceptable” and emphasised the neutrality of humanitarian aid.
“The EU reiterates its urgent call for the immediate, unimpeded and sustained resumption of aid at scale,” Kallas said.
The UK legal experts’ letter comes days before the attorney general, Lord Hermer KC, is due to address the Royal United Services Institute on the condition of the international rules-based order.
Against this backdrop, the letter intensifies pressure on UK Labour leader and prime minister to shift from symbolic gestures to substantive policy responses.
The legal memorandum accompanying the letter provides detailed legal arguments for sanctions and outlines the UK’s international obligations under the Genocide Convention and Geneva Conventions.
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