16 Jul. 24: Five newly elected independent MPs have written to UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, urging the Labour government to adhere to its obligations under international law concerning the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The MPs, Jeremy Corbyn, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan, Iqbal Mohamed and Shockat Adam, are calling for immediate and decisive action in response to what they describe as the “ongoing catastrophic” situation and what the International Court of Justice has said is a “plausible genocide”, reports Middle East Monitor.
The MPs’ letter highlights the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pointing to widespread famine as declared by UN officials last week and a Lancet report predicting that as many as 190,000 Palestinians could die due to Israel’s military operations. They assert that the UK must act to alleviate the suffering and uphold justice.
Among their demands, the MPs call for an end to arms sales to Israel and the restoration of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). They urge the UK government to drop its legal challenge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes.
The MPs stress the UK’s obligations under international law, while calling on the Labour government to “suspend all provision of weapons and weapon systems” to Israel. They also call for a “public statement supporting the implementation of provisional measures as advised by the International Court of Justice” (ICJ).
ICJ provisional measures issued in January ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and ensure its military forces do not commit any acts that could be considered genocidal. It also called on Israel to take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel’s failure to comply with the measures forced the World Court to intervene in May ordering an immediate halt to Israel’s military operation in southern Gaza. Despite the World Court’s order for an immediate halt to Israel’s military operation in southern Gaza, the rate of killing and destruction has only increased.
In addition, the MPs urge the UK to use its position within the United Nations Security Council to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and to formally recognise the State of Palestine. They also call for the suspension of the 2030 Road Map for UK-Israel bilateral relations and any ongoing negotiations towards an expanded trade agreement.
