NEARLY 30 of Keir Starmer’s MPs have told his Government it must “impose widespread sanctions” on Israel.
The group of 28 Labour MPs and eight Lords are signatories of a letter endorsed by 63 parliamentarians demanding the Government takes action against Israeli settlers.
It also calls for the UK Government to impose a total arms embargo on Israel – after Labour gave the country a significant carve out by exempting fighter jet components from its arms sale ban earlier this year.
The signatories call for “individuals and entities” involved in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories to be slapped with travel bans and have their assets frozen, as well as for all trade with those territories to be stopped.
It also calls for the UK Government to “revoke” the 2030 roadmap outlining Britain’s ambitions for stronger economic and security ties with the Middle Eastern state.
It comes after international arrest warrants were issued for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (above) and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant as well as Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s military wing.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also issued a landmark ruling in July which said that Israel’s occupation of territories including East Jerusalem was illegal.
The letter was organised by Richard Burgon and Imran Hussain, both currently suspended from Labour after voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
It was signed by serving Labour MPs as well as members of other parties including the SNP, Sinn Sinn Fein, and members of the Independent Alliance of pro-Palestine MPs, which includes Jeremy Corbyn.
Burgon (above) said: "We cannot allow Israel to tear up the rule book of international law and simply go unpunished. Words alone from our Government are simply not enough.
"Our Government has a legal and moral obligation to act. It needs to impose widespread sanctions to get Israel to end its war crimes and stop violating international law. ”
Hussain added: "By imposing widespread sanctions on Israel as the ICJ ruling demands, our Government would be taking a stance in defence of the international rules-based order and making clear that Israel will no longer get away with trampling all over international law.”
