Re: The UK’s Complicity in Israel’s War on Gaza – Time for an Arms Embargo

As your constituent, I am writing to you to act against the UK’s continued support for Israel, as it carries out a campaign of mass killing and destruction in Gaza, intensifies its efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and risks dragging the wider region into full-scale war.

Over the last few years, Israel has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, including at least 20,000 children. More than 150,000 have been injured, and thousands more are still missing. Civilian infrastructure across Gaza has been systematically destroyed, including hospitals, schools and aid centres, leaving many without access to food, shelter or medical care.

In the West Bank, Israel launched its most violent crackdown in decades. Over 900 Palestinians have been killed, including 181 children, and more than 40,000 people have been displaced. Israeli leaders have publicly spoken about applying a “Gaza solution” to the West Bank, which makes clear that these actions are not isolated but part of a wider effort to permanently remove Palestinians from their land.

In January 2024, the ICJ found there is a plausible case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. In a separate ruling in July, the ICJ found that Israel is violating international law throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The court made it clear that all states have a duty to ensure Israel complies with international law.

A UN Commission recently ruled that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission said: “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.”

Despite these clear legal obligations, the UK government has continued to arm and support Israel. The Foreign Secretary’s suspension of just 30 military export licences last September was a token gesture. Hundreds of licences remain active, including those that supply parts for the F-35 fighter jets used in some of the deadliest airstrikes in Gaza, such as the bombing of the Al-Mawasi “humanitarian zone” in July 2024, which killed 90 people and injured at least 300. The UK supplies 15 percent of the components used in these aircraft. This makes our government directly complicit in death and destruction.

We even house the UK branch of Elbit Systems, which is known to be the backbone of the IDF. They supply up to 85% of Israel's drones and land-based military equipment, the majority of which is used in Israel's genocidal military campaign against the Palestinians.

More than 800 UK legal experts, including former judges, barristers and academics signed an open letter saying that the government is breaching its legal duties by continuing to supply arms to Israel. They are calling for a full arms embargo and for the UK to impose sanctions. They also point out that the UK’s own lawyers warned earlier this year that Israel is violating international humanitarian law, yet this advice has still not been made public.

As your constituent, I am asking you to do the following:

Make a statement calling for an immediate suspension of all UK arms exports to Israel, including military and dual-use equipment.

Demand the publication of the government’s legal advice on Israel’s conduct.

This is not just a matter of foreign policy. It is a test of whether the UK respects and upholds international law and human rights.

I look forward to your response.