Leith MP Tracy Gilbert calls on PM to sanction Israel and suspend arms trade

Dear Richard,

Thank you for getting in touch with me on this important matter. Following the breakdown of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas a number of constituents have been in touch with me.

I share your horror at the scenes we are seeing in Gaza. And I condemn the blockading of vital aid which is a clear breach of International Humanitarian Law.

I welcome the diplomatic efforts of the UK Government to get the ceasefire back on track, however, I feel additional action must be taken. I have written to the Prime Minister to urge him to put in place sanctions and suspend all arms trade. I have copied and pasted the text of the letter to the bottom of this e-mail for your information.

Yours sincerely,

Tracy

Letter to the Prime Minister

Prime Minister,

I am writing to you following the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas and the action I feel the UK Government should take in addition to the important diplomatic efforts that currently ongoing.

It was always clear the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was fragile, with the move from Stage 1 to Stage 2 always a potential flashpoint. In February. I had the opportunity to visit the West Bank and the Gaza envelope and saw the Israeli aggression and destruction first hand.

During the visit, I met with a hostage family who were clear that conflict was not the way to secure the return of their loved one, I saw the humiliation as check points keep Palestinians waiting hours to move around and experienced settler violence as we were approached by two arms settlers in the South Hebron hills.

It is essential that Hamas release the hostages, but it remains the case that a ceasefire and negotiation is the only way to achieve this.

A number of constituents have been in touch with me to express their anger at the unjustifiable actions of the Israeli Government over the last few weeks. The Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure and UN facilities has led to the deaths of over 270 children and a British national. The blockading of aid will cause many more deaths and this clear breach of humanitarian law must be challenged.

While I will always support the efforts of yourself, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Middle East in working with our partners it is clear that the UK Government must put further pressure on the Israeli Government to revive the ceasefire and get on the path to peace.

I am therefore asking you to take the following action to exert pressure on the Israeli Government:

    Suspend UK-Israel trade negotiations until a ceasefire is in place,
    Suspend all current arms licenses to Israel,
    Place sanctions on Israeli politicians who support military action in Gaza,
    Enforce a strict anti-settlement policy across Government ensuring that settlers are sanctioned and that illegal settlement goods are banned from entering the UK.

As more Israeli citizens join protests against the Israeli Government because of their warmongering and judiciary overhaul, I firmly believe the UK Government should stand behind those protesters by taking the action I have outlined above.

Dear Tracy Gilbert,

I am pleased that David Lammy told the House of Commons on 20 March that "We strongly oppose Israel’s resumption of hostilities".

I am also pleased that David Lammy has condemned Israeli Army Minister Israel Katz's social media post threatening the "total devastation." Katz's post appears to be a statement of intent to carry out war crimes, including genocide. Similar statements of intent have appeared in leaflets reported to have been distributed by Israel in Gaza.

I am writing to ask you to ask David Lammy what measures he intends to take to reflect his opposition to Israel's actions and to induce Israel to resume the ceasefire.

It must be supposed that Israel would have anticipated a degree of international criticism when it decided to break the ceasefire and that it is unlikely to change course unless firm action is taken.

I therefore ask you, additionally, to urge David Lammy to take immediate steps to end all UK military cooperation with Israel and to halt all transfers of arms from the UK to Israel.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Haley