4th September 2024

Following the Government’s decision to suspend some arms licences to Israel, 18 UK charities and organisations, including Embrace, have issued the following statement:

The Government’s recognition of the clear risk that Israel is using UK arms in serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a welcome step forward. Given that recognition, and the clear and compelling evidence that the Israeli military is violating IHL, it is insufficient that the Government has failed to end ALL arms transfers to Israel.

In January, the International Court of Justice warned there is a risk that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and has ordered that Israel cease actions that might be part of a genocide. This should leave no doubt that there can be no more business as usual. The failure of the UK government to suspend all arms transfers to Israel, leaving a significant loophole for parts used in F-35 fighter jets which have been used in attacks on so-called “safe zones,” means that it remains complicit in the death and destruction that Israel’s assault and siege have wrought on Palestinians in Gaza.

For eleven months, humanitarian organisations have raised the alarm about Israel’s potential violations of international law, including the use of starvation and denial of water as weapons of war, attacks on civilian and so-called “safe” areas, and targeting of aid operations. These actions are strangling the humanitarian response and denying Palestinians the basic necessities needed to sustain life. The inevitable consequence of these policies has resulted in more than 40,000 people killed, including more than 14,000 children, 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, and the resurgence of polio in Gaza after 25 years with no cases, putting 640,000 children at risk.

Meanwhile, Israel’s denial of access for UN mechanisms, human rights experts and journalists, and its rampant disinformation against UN agencies, has dramatically undermined efforts to document its violations. In that vein, we are deeply concerned that, in the two months since the new UK Government was elected, it has failed to engage with UK-based humanitarian organisations working in Gaza at a Ministerial level to seek their input on these issues.

In this context, it is beyond time for the UK to recognise the Government of Israel’s disregard for international humanitarian law and active frustration of humanitarian operations, and to act accordingly. As a collective group of humanitarian, development, human rights and faith charities working for Palestinian human rights, wellbeing and dignity, we reiterate our collective call on the Government to immediately end ALL arms transfers to Israel to prevent their use in violations of international law.

Signatories:

1. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

2. Oxfam GB

3. Welfare Association

4. Save the Children UK

5. Caabu (Council for Arab British Understanding)

6. Amnesty International UK

7. Islamic Relief UK

8. Action For Humanity

9. War on Want

10. Quakers in Britain

11. Interpal

12. Christian Aid

13. Amos Trust

14. Humanity & Inclusion UK

15. CARE International

16. ActionAid UK

17. Embrace the Middle East

18. CAFOD