A joint letter signed by prominent politicians in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recall parliament and impose immediate sanctions on Israel.
The letter emphasizes the need for decisive action to address the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, which is described as both “man-made and avoidable”.
The signatories include Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, SDLP leader Claire Hanna, SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, and others.
The letter highlights the dire situation in Gaza, where the blocking of food, water, and medical supplies has led to a man-made famine, claiming lives and inflicting irreparable harm on the population.
“The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is both man-made and avoidable,” the letter states. “It is characterised not only by relentless bombardment and destruction, but by the deliberate creation of conditions that are starving a civilian population.”
The politicians urge Starmer to act now to exert pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza.
The letter calls for several key actions, including recalling parliament to impose sanctions on Israel, supporting a ceasefire, and meaningful diplomatic intervention to protect civilians and secure a just and lasting peace.
The signatories also demand an immediate end to all arms sales to Israel and support for independent, international investigations into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide in Gaza.
Furthermore, they emphasize the need for the UK to use its diplomatic influence to ensure the unimpeded delivery of food, water, medicine, and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
Stephen Flynn, Scottish National Party (SNP)’s Westminster leader, has been vocal about the need for strong action against Israel.
In a separate letter, Flynn demanded that the UK parliament be immediately recalled to impose direct sanctions on the Israeli government and take decisive steps to halt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military campaign.
“A genocide is happening before our eyes in Gaza,” Flynn said. “Words of condemnation aren’t anywhere near enough – if we have any hope of stopping this genocide, strong actions are desperately needed, now.”
The UK’s continued intelligence cooperation with Israel has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it risks complicity in war crimes.
Despite Prime Minister Starmer’s criticism of Israel’s Gaza City takeover plan, the UK’s surveillance flights over Gaza have continued, raising concerns about the potential use of shared intelligence in military operations.
The SNP has argued that the UK is not powerless and should take concrete steps to sanction the Israeli government.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, with over 61,200 Palestinians killed and over 152,000 wounded since October 2023.
Civilians endure daily bombardment, starvation, and collapse of essential infrastructure. The situation demands immediate attention and action from the international community to prevent further suffering and protect human rights.