Over 60 MPs urge UK to sanction 'Israel' for violating in't law
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The letter was signed by members of the pro-Gaza Independent Alliance as well as peers such as Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, co-chairwoman of the Conservative Party, and received the support of many parliamentarians.
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Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy addresses the Summit of the Future in the UNGA on September 23, 2024. (AP)
More than 60 British legislators representing seven political parties have urged Foreign Secretary David Lammy to sanction "Israel," citing its repeated violations of international law.
The letter, submitted to Lammy on Wednesday was sponsored by independent MPs Richard Burgon and Imran Hussain and is based on the historic advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July, which declared "Israel's" occupation of Palestinian areas illegal and demanded that it cease immediately.
Among the signatories are significant political personalities such as former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Other parliamentarians from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, and the Scottish National Party all supported the request.
The letter was signed by members of the pro-Gaza Independent Alliance as well as peers such as Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, co-chairwoman of the Conservative Party.
The ICJ advisory judgment emphasized that all governments, including the United Kingdom, have a legal responsibility to refrain from activities that acknowledge or assist "Israel's" occupation of Palestinian lands.
The MPs' letter asked the UK government to take immediate action to comply with international law.
"We write to urge the UK government to impose sanctions and take other concrete steps to give effect to the landmark opinion issued by the ICJ on Israel's continuing illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory," the note said, emphasizing that the UK's declared commitment to international law must be reflected in its actions.
"Acting in support of the ICJ advisory opinion would be a critical step in demonstrating that commitment," the lawmakers said.
According to the MPs, the UK should also take steps to "prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Territories" as well as "to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Territories which may entrench its unlawful presence there."
Majority of British people support arresting Netanyahu: Poll
The letter comes as a recent poll indicated that the vast majority of people in the United Kingdom believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be detained if he ever visits Britain, The National reported days ago.
A Find Out Now survey conducted on November 22 indicated that 42% of people want him imprisoned after the International Criminal Court issued warrants for him and former Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant last week for war crimes in Gaza.
According to the survey, only 14% of respondents did not want Netanyahu imprisoned after the warrant. Nearly two-thirds of Labour voters (58%) indicated they wanted the Israeli Prime Minister arrested if he visited the UK, while LibDem supporters agreed (57%).
Green supporters were the most eager to see Netanyahu jailed (76%), while Reform voters were the least enthusiastic, with only 28% voting for his detainment.
