UNA-UK, together with humanitarian organizations, politicians and members of the public, is calling on the UK to stop arming Israel immediately. By refusing to stop selling these arms, the UK is complicit in the slaughter of civilians taking place daily in Gaza.
Read the open letter, coordinated by Oxfam, to the Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch And Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron:
Dear Trade Secretary and Foreign Secretary,
Together we are urging you to immediately halt arms licences and exports to the Government of Israel. This is just one crucial step towards helping to secure a permanent and immediate ceasefire for all Palestinians and Israelis.
Nowhere in Gaza is safe. The military offensive in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people and forced 1.9 million people from their homes. Schools, hospitals, aid facilities, bakeries and water infrastructure have all been impacted and many have been destroyed. It is against international law to intentionally or recklessly attack civilians and civilian infrastructure – and British arms sold to Israel are potentially being used to commit such serious violations of international law. By refusing to stop selling these arms, the UK is complicit in the slaughter of civilians taking place daily in Gaza.
Bomber aircraft containing parts made in the UK are being used to reduce parts of Gaza to rubble, striking fear into the hearts of people in Gaza, and destroying countless lives. The Government of Israel has killed tens of thousands of people, and forced displacement, starvation and deprivation upon more than 2 million people. The UK Government, along with the international community, must take all measures within their power to prevent the risk of genocide in Gaza.
Everyone in Gaza is in need of humanitarian assistance but the ferocity of this conflict has made it impossible for humanitarian organisations to do their work. An immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire is vital to stop the death and destruction. Ending arms sales is a crucial step towards this. A ceasefire is the only meaningful way to deliver aid, and the safest way to get hostages out. Then the hard work of building lasting peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis can start
We ask you to:
- Immediately suspend arms licences and exports to the Government of Israel.
- Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
Signed,
Adrian Ramsay, Green Party of England and Wales Co-Leader
Aisling Bea, Actor, writer and comedian
Aleema Shivji, Interim Chief Executive, Oxfam GB
Andrew Whitley, Chair, Balfour Project
Anna Stavrianakis, Director of Research and Strategy, Shadow World Investigations
Annie Lennox, Singer-songwriter and activist
Anthony Slaughter, Leader, Wales Green Party
Asad Rehman, Executive Director, War on Want
Ben Webster, CEO, Mosaik
Brian Cox, Actor
Carla Denyer, Green Party of England and Wales Co-Leader
Caroline Qutteneh, Director, Welfare Association
Charlotte Marshall, Director, Sabeel-Kairos UK
Chris Doyle, Director, Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu)
Chris Rose, Director, Amost Trust
Christine Allen, CEO, CAFOD
Clare Short, Former Secretary of State for International Development
Daniel Lismore, Artist
Dr Kate Ferguson, Co-Executive Director, Protection Approaches
Dylan Mathews, Chief Executive, Peace Direct
Enyseh Teimory, Head of Policy, United Nations Association - UK (UNA-UK)
Eva Tabbasam, Director, Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
Frances Guy, CEO, Scotland International Development Alliance
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Gemma Sherrington, Interim CEO, Save the Children UK
Hannah Bond, Co-CEO of ActionAid UK
Helen Close, Research Associate, Omega Research Foundation
Jill Kent, Chairperson, Justice and Peace Scotland
Katie Fallon, Advocacy Manager, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)
Khalid Abdalla, Actor
Lorna Slater MSP, Scottish Green Party Co-Leader
Lorraine Currie, CEO, SCIAF
Marian Pallister, Chair, Pax Christi Scotland
Melanie Ward, CEO, Medical Aid for Palestinians
Mikaela Loach, Author & climate justice activist
Mirza Waheed, Novelist
Most Rev. William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow
Nick Dearden, Director, Global Justice Now
Nish Kumar, Comedian & Presenter
Osai Ojigho, Director of Policy, Christian Aid
Paloma Faith, Singer-songwriter
Patrick Harvie MSP, Scottish Green Party Co-Leader
Paul Murphy, Executive Director, Saferworld
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Plaid Cymru Leader
Rob Williams, CEO, War Child Alliance
Robert Lindsay, Actor
Rose Caldwell, CEO, Plan International UK
Sacha Deshmukh, CEO, Amnesty International UK
Sarel Madziya, Actor & Presenter
Tareq Shrourou, Director, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights
Tim Livesey, Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
Tufail Hussain, UK Director, Islamic Relief
Wassim Khmaja, Deputy CEO, Action for Humanity
Zack Polanski, Green Party of England and Wales Deputy Leader
This letter remains open for signatures. For a full list of signatories, and to sign the open letter coordinated by Oxfam, click here.
Read more
- Read the global call for an immediate ceasefire
- See UNA-UK’s resources and write to your MP
- UNA-UK's head of policy calls on the UK to support Gaza ceasefire resolution
- UNA-UK statement calling on the UK to halt arms exports to Israel
- UNA-UK statement on the devastating violence in Gaza and Israel
- Statement in support of the UN Secretary-General from former British senior officials
- UNA-UK statement commending commitment to address the use of explosive weapons in populated areas
