800 UK lawyers including top judges urge PM to sanction Israel and suspend its UN membership over war crimes and “unparalleled assault” on international law.
UK Lawyers Call on Government to Sanction Israel Over International Law Violations
More than 800 legal professionals, including former Supreme Court judges, have signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take immediate action against Israel in response to breaches of international law in Gaza.
The signatories are calling for the UK to impose sanctions on the Israeli government and its ministers, suspend trade agreements, and consider pushing for Israel’s suspension from the United Nations. They argue that these steps are necessary to fulfil the UK’s legal obligations under international law.
The letter alleges that serious violations are being committed in the occupied Palestinian territories, including potential war crimes and crimes against humanity. It points to recent comments by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said the Israeli military would “wipe out” what remains of Gaza, as part of mounting evidence of possible genocidal intent.
It also highlights concerns over Israel’s actions toward the United Nations, including a ban on the UN relief agency UNRWA and reported attacks on UN premises and staff. The lawyers describe these actions as not just isolated incidents but a broader challenge to the international system established by the UN Charter.
Addressed to Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the letter urges a review of UK-Israel trade ties, including the suspension of the 2030 roadmap for bilateral cooperation. The authors argue that the UK has so far failed to meet its legal duties to prevent and respond to potential genocide, uphold international humanitarian law, and support the right of Palestinians to self-determination.
“All states, including the UK, are legally obliged to act to prevent and punish genocide,” the letter states, warning that a failure to respond risks undermining the credibility of international law and contributing to a growing culture of impunity.
The call comes amid increasing international scrutiny of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the broader implications for global legal norms.