More than 800 legal experts, including retired Supreme Court justices, insist the UK must meet its legal obligations to act against Israel. In a letter to Keir Starmer, they demand sanctions, trade suspensions, and even UN expulsion for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The signatories, featuring prominent figures like Lord Sumption and over 70 KCs, argue Israel’s actions risk genocide. They cite inflammatory remarks by Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s vow to “wipe out” Gaza.
Despite Foreign Secretary David Lammy suspending trade talks, lawyers say the UK must go further. They urge immediate sanctions on officials accused of inciting violence and backing illegal settlements. Current measures, they argue, target only low-level settlers, failing broader legal obligations to act.
The letter highlights Israel’s alleged assault on the UN, including banning aid group UNRWA and attacking UN personnel. As a Security Council member, the UK should push for Israel’s suspension, they claim. Former judge Sir Alan Moses warns: “Upholding the rule of law requires action, not empty words.”
Meanwhile, Germany joins global condemnation after an Israeli airstrike killed 36 in a Gaza school shelter. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called civilian harm “unjustifiable.” Over 53,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023, with aid blockades worsening starvation.
The legal experts also demand an immediate ceasefire, full aid access, and enforcement of ICC arrest warrants for PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Their intervention comes as the UK’s Attorney General prepares a key speech on international law.
With Labour and Tory MPs calling Lammy’s steps insufficient, Starmer faces growing pressure. As legal obligations to act mount, the government’s next move could redefine Britain’s stance on justice and accountability.
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