Dear Keir Starmer,
I am writing to you, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and all Labour Cabinet members on behalf of members of York Green Party.
We are urging you, the British Government, to use the leverage that you most definitely do have to influence the criminal actions of this murderous Israeli government in Gaza.
We are seeing images of starving children being shot and killed on our screens every day when the aid they desperately need is just a few kilometres away – and so far your Government has basically done nothing! In future this shame will define how history records your Government and your legacy -unless you decide to act.
Words of anguish at the horror that this Israeli government is imposing on Gaza are all very well, but they don’t change anything.
It is encouraging to read today that at least some of your Cabinet members are urging further action. Please listen to them.
As so many people are telling you, there is much more a British government can do:
- cancel all 300 UK licenses for arms exports to Israel;
- at least suspend the export of F35 parts to the central ‘pot’;
- cut all ties with the Israeli military including training support and use of British bases in Cyprus and bases in this country.
- support boycotts of Israeli goods, making it clear that you believe that this current Israeli government is acting as a terrorist state, committing war crimes and genocide;
- make it clear that you will arrest Netanyahu and others named by the ICC as war criminals should they ever consider visiting this country.
- recognise Palestine as a state.
Stop pretending that the UK doesn’t have influence and leverage and start using it.
Bombing the homes of 2 million people to the ground, killing 58,000 people, driving them to the point of starvation and then murdering them when they try to access food can hardly be seen as anything other than a war crime and crime against humanity.
It’s hard to imagine a more desperate situation than that faced by Palestinians in Gaza at this very moment. It is way beyond time to take action now.
Yours in despair and shame,
Denise Craghill,
Chair of York Green Party
