JJP writes to FCDO and Canadian and French Embassies

On 21 May, JJP wrote to the FCDO and the Canadian and French Embassies to commend them on the very strong statement they issued two days before. Their statement condemned Israel’s continued assault on Gaza and the denial of humanitarian aid in the strongest terms. It also refuted two of Israel’s most pernicious talking points in defence of its genocidal assault on Gaza.

Our letter is below.

21 May 2025

Stephen Hickey, Director, Middle East & North Africa, FCDO

Jonathan Powell, National Security Adviser

Katrina Burgess, Political Counsellor, Canadian High Commission

Hugo Delcher, Political Counsellor, French Embassy

Dear Mr. Hickey, Mr. Powell, Ms. Burgess and Mr. Delcher,

We are writing to commend the joint statement issued on 19 May under the title “Joint statement from the leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom and France on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank”.

We feel that, at last, some governments have had the courage to tell this Israeli government it will face severe consequences if it does not end its “abhorrent”, “wholly disproportionate” attack on the people of Gaza, and cease it’s settlement expansion in the West Bank. While the statement did not refer to genocide, we are sure your governments understand that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The demarches issued to Israel in private over the past 20 years were successful in halting settlement building in Area E1 of the West Bank. That was a strategic imperative to maintain the possibility of creating a viable Palestinian state. The current situation is much worse.

The need is imperative and urgent. This Israeli government must be prevented from continuing its genocidal attacks, which would kill hundreds if not thousands more people, and from attempting to ethnically cleanse Gaza and the refugee camps of the West Bank. The reputation of the countries which observe but do nothing will be indelibly stained.

We also commend the joint statement for refuting two of this Israeli government’s most egregious claims.

First, it says “We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism.” This correctly speaks only of Israel’s right to defend its citizens, but does not support Israel’s false claim to “the right of self-defence” against the people it occupies.

Second, it says “We will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority…”, thereby refuting the Israeli government’s repeated claim that it has the right to prevent any Palestinian governance of Gaza in the future.

We hope other governments will soon add their names to the joint statement or issue their own statements. We will be urging them to do so.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Goodman,
Parliamentary and Diplomatic Officer