Over 600 British legal professionals, including former UK Supreme Court judges, call on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to stop arms exports to Israel, highlighting international law concerns and the tragic deaths of UK aid workers.
Over 600 British jurists, including three retired judges from the UK Supreme Court, have addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, urging the government to stop arms sales to Israel. This call to action follows the deaths of three UK aid workers in an Israeli strike, bringing international scrutiny to the UK’s ongoing weapon exports to Israel amidst the Gaza conflict. The letter detailed concerns that such continued support could implicate the UK in “grave breaches of international law.”
The letter forms part of growing demands from various quarters, including opposition members and senior Conservatives, asking the government to reconsider its stance on weapons sales to Israel, especially if breaches of international law are confirmed. This development comes amid broader international reactions, with Canada ceasing future arms shipments to Israel and a Dutch court halting the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to the country, while the US and Germany, among Israel’s principal arms suppliers, maintain their positions on weapon sales.
Simultaneously, the World Central Kitchen, a charity, is calling for an independent investigation into an Israeli Defence Forces strike that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza, among them British nationals John Chapman, James “Jim” Henderson, and James Kirby. This incident has sparked widespread calls for transparency and accountability and amplified the debate over the UK’s military relations with Israel.
The lawyers’ letter emphasizes the UK’s obligations under international law and its moral duty to halt arms sales, tying Britain’s actions to the broader issue of international humanitarian law compliance. These developments highlight significant political and ethical questions regarding the UK’s foreign policy and its implications for international peace and human rights standards.
