More than 800 lawyers, judges call for UK sanctions on Israel over Gaza war
Palestinians at the site of an Israeli strike on a tent camp sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, 18 May 2025
Al Jazeera reports on 27 May 2025:
The United Kingdom must impose sanctions on the Israeli government and its ministers and take steps to “prevent and punish genocide” in Gaza, according to a letter signed by more than 800 lawyers, academics and former judges.
The open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called on the British government to take concrete action to halt the “serious violations of international law” being committed by Israel.
“Genocide is being perpetrated in Gaza or, at a minimum, there is a serious risk of genocide occurring,” the letter stated, adding that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and serious violations of international humanitarian law were also taking place.
It urged Starmer to respond swiftly as “urgent and decisive action is required to avert the destruction of the Palestinian people of Gaza.” The letter quoted recent comments by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who expressed Israel’s intention to “take control of all the territory of the [Gaza] Strip” and “conquer, cleanse and stay – until Hamas is destroyed”.
The letter, signed by senior legal figures including former Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges, noted a recent statement by the leaders of the UK, France and Canada that the suffering in Gaza was “intolerable”, welcoming the indication that the governments were prepared to take action.