In an urgent call to action, over 800 legal professionals, including prominent lawyers, academics, and retired senior judges, have urged the UK government to impose sanctions on the Israeli government and its ministers. They also recommend considering the suspension of Israel from the United Nations to fulfill what they describe as the UK’s “fundamental international legal obligations.” This demand comes in the wake of a grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the situation is deteriorating rapidly.

In a letter directed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the signatories expressed their support for a joint statement issued by Starmer alongside leaders from France and Canada. This statement warned that these nations were prepared to take “concrete actions” against Israel if the ongoing violations of international law did not cease. However, the legal experts stressed the need for immediate action, stating that “urgent and decisive action is required to avert the destruction of the Palestinian people of Gaza.”

The letter's signatories include distinguished former supreme court justices, such as Lord Sumption and Lord Wilson, as well as numerous judges from the court of appeal and over 70 King's Counsel (KCs). They argue that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and severe violations of international humanitarian law are currently being perpetrated in Palestine.

In their correspondence to Starmer, the experts pointed to mounting evidence of genocide, either being committed or posing a serious risk of occurring. They highlighted alarming remarks made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who stated that Israel’s army would “wipe out” what remains of the Palestinian population in Gaza.

The letter asserts: “All states, including the UK, are legally obliged to take all reasonable steps within their power to prevent and punish genocide; to ensure respect for international humanitarian law; and to bring to an end violations of the right to self-determination.” The signatories argue that the UK’s current actions have not met these legal standards. They emphasize that the lack of international accountability concerning the occupied Palestinian territories contributes to a growing climate of lawlessness and impunity, thereby jeopardizing the international legal framework itself. They insist that the time for action is now, before it becomes too late.

Recently, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced a suspension of negotiations related to a new free trade agreement with Israel. However, the signatories of the letter argue that more robust measures are necessary. They recommend that the UK government conduct a thorough review of existing trade relations, suspend the long-term 2030 roadmap aimed at closer UK-Israel partnership, and impose trade sanctions against Israel.

The legal experts called for the immediate sanctioning of Israeli officials and ministers implicated in inciting genocide or supporting illegal settlements. They pointed out that previous financial sanctions and travel bans have only targeted individual settlers, settler outposts, and related organizations, underscoring the need for a broader approach.

In response to the allegations of genocide, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has categorically denied these claims, labeling them as “false” and “outrageous.” He urged decent individuals worldwide to reject such accusations.

The letter also identifies Israel's actions against the United Nations as a significant concern. It notes the Israeli government's ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is vital for providing aid to the Palestinian people. The signatories argue that Israel’s attacks on UN premises, property, and personnel go beyond isolated incidents and represent a broader challenge to the UN charter system.

In light of these concerns, the letter suggests that the UK, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, should consider initiating proceedings aimed at suspending Israel from the organization. Sir Alan Moses, one of the signatories, emphasized the UK’s responsibility to uphold international law, stating, “We cannot expect peace unless we fulfill our obligations under international law. It is an exercise in futility for a government to claim it upholds the rule of law while failing to demonstrate it.”

Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill, an emeritus fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the UK has a crucial role in ensuring that Palestinians can exercise their right to self-determination. He stated, “Everyone must be free from persecution, displacement, and ethnic cleansing. No one should ever be a refugee in their own land.”

The urgency of the situation has escalated, particularly in light of reports of Israel withholding essential aid from Palestinians. While an 11-week blockade was officially lifted, the letter indicates that the aid allowed in remains woefully inadequate to address the escalating humanitarian disaster.

Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023, more than 53,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli military actions in Gaza, which followed a deadly Hamas attack that claimed 1,200 Israeli lives. A recent Israeli strike on a school being used as a shelter tragically killed 36 people, according to health officials.

On the same day, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a staunch ally of Israel, remarked that the harm inflicted on civilians “can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,” adding to the growing chorus of international condemnation.

The letter implores the UK government to secure an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, resume humanitarian aid, and lift the ban on UNRWA. Furthermore, it calls for the UK to confirm its readiness to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

This letter intensifies the pressure on Prime Minister Starmer to take substantial action, coinciding with an upcoming lecture by Attorney General Lord Hermer KC on “the condition of the international-rules-based-order.” Many backbenchers from both the Labour and Conservative parties have already expressed their belief that the current suspension of free trade talks with Israel falls significantly short of the necessary response.

A previous letter from members of the UK legal community, sent last year, had already raised concerns about the UK breaching international law by continuing arms sales to Israel. The latest letter refrains from addressing the issue of arms sales, as this matter is currently pending a ruling from the High Court in London following a legal challenge.