RE: Britain must demand Israel abide by the ceasefire agreement and lift the siege on Gaza, and end its complicity in Israel’s ongoing attacks on Palestinians.
The situation in Palestine remains extremely urgent. For over a week, Israel has reimposed a total blockade on the entry of all aid and supplies to the Gaza Strip, with potentially devastating consequences. On 9 March, in a further tightening of the blockade, Israel cut off electricity to an essential water desalination plant, threatening the supply of clean water.
Israel is refusing to implement the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which would see a complete withdrawal of the Israeli military. Instead, it is using the threat of starvation and water shortages in an attempt to impose new terms, in alliance with the US government.
The British government has a clear responsibility to act to protect the fragile ceasefire agreement and bring about Israel’s compliance with international law. It must:
- Call on Israel to abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement and enter negotiations on the implementation of the second phase.
- Demand the complete and permanent lifting of Israel’s unlawful siege on the Gaza Strip.
- Implement a comprehensive embargo on all arms trade with Israel.
Israel’s blockade on Gaza is an extension of the genocide that it has perpetrated since October 2023, which has seen the International Criminal Court issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including using “starvation as a method of warfare.”
Almost all of Gaza’s residents are dependent on aid and experiencing shortages of food and essential medicines.
Alongside blocking aid, Israel has killed a number of Palestinians in Gaza through sniper fire and drone strikes in recent days, in violation of the ceasefire agreement. At least 116 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israel since the ceasefire came into effect.
In addition, Israel has intensified its military invasions in the illegally occupied West Bank, forcibly displacing the residents of 3 refugee camps, and causing large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure. The Israeli military has used armoured tanks to invade Jenin refugee camp, the first time they have been used in the West Bank in 20 years. This year alone, Israel has killed over 70 Palestinians in the West Bank, including 17 children.
The British government is obliged not to render aid and assistance to Israel’s military occupation, which the International Court of Justice has ruled unlawful in its entirety. It must end Britain’s complicity in Israel’s grave violations of international law by imposing an embargo on all arms trade with Israel.
The government must use every tool at its disposal to ensure Israel abides by the ceasefire agreement, lifts the siege on Gaza, and ends its militarised attacks on Palestinians.