100 leading British cultural figures call on Starmer to stop arms sales to Israel

“By suspending arms sales to Israel, particularly while its leader faces arrest warrants from the ICC, you can send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate human rights abuses and will stand up for the oppressed.”

By Artists for Palestine

Over 100 leading cultural figures in Britain, including Oscar and BAFTA-winners, have called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to commit to stop arming Israel if elected Prime Minister on 4 July.

Signatories to the letter include Oscar-winning actor Riz Ahmed and director Asif Kapadia, actors including BAFTA-winning Steve Coogan, Miriam Margolyes OBE, Paapa Essiedu, Dame Harriet Walter, Juliet Stevenson and Lena Heady, and singer Paloma Faith.

The call comes amid an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which recently saw Israeli strikes on a designated ‘safe area’ in Rafah kill over 50 civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The letter calls on Starmer, as a former human rights lawyer, to lead the way in “ending UK complicity in war crimes in Gaza” by stopping arms sales to Israel.

The move would follow in the footsteps of states like Spain, which have halted arms sales in the wake of the atrocities in Gaza.

You can read the full text of the letter below:

“We, the undersigned, write to urge you to take a stand against the ongoing atrocities committed by Israel and commit to stopping arms sales to Israel should you become Prime Minister.

In just eight months, more than 35,000 people have been murdered by Israel. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s top court, has ordered Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.” Yet, Israel has disregarded this ruling and bombed a designated “safe space” 60 times in 48 hours, resulting in the deaths of entire families. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently faces arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

Continuing to sell arms to a country whose leader is accused of such grave violations of international law is morally reprehensible.

Countries like Spain have already taken action by halting arms sales to Israel. It is time for the UK to follow suit and demonstrate its commitment to human rights and international law.

Polls suggest that you are likely to become the next Prime Minister, winning with a promise of “change.” As a former human rights lawyer, you have a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change by ending UK complicity in war crimes in Gaza. You would be well supported: a majority of the British public supports ending arms sales to Israel.

The UK must no longer remain complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people. By suspending arms sales to Israel, particularly while its leader faces arrest warrants from the ICC, you can send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate human rights abuses and will stand up for the oppressed.

Sir Keir, we urge you to seize this opportunity to bring about real change and demonstrate your commitment to justice and human rights. The lives of countless Palestinians depend on leaders like you taking a principled stand.”

Signatories:

Aisling Bea, Writer, Actor, Comedian
Alia Alzougbi, Artistic Director
Alycia Pirmohamed, Poet
Amar Chebib, Filmmaker
Andrew Milk, Musician
Anna Shaffer, Actor
Asif Kapadia, Film Director
Bella Freud, Fashion Designer
Bilal Hasna, Actor
Brigid Keenan, Writer, Journalist
Camilla Whitehill, Writer
Cara Theobold, Actor
Cathy Reay, Author
Catrin Evans, Theatre Director
Chardine Taylor-Stone, Musician
Charlotte Church, Singer
Claire Kohda, Author, Violinist
Courttia Newland, Writer
Crystal Bennes, Artist
Dan Hancox, Author
David Sylvian, Musician, Artist
Emily Berry, Writer
Esther Wakelin-Stotten, Art teacher, DJ
Eyal Sivan, Filmmaker
Farah Nabulsi, Filmmaker
Fatima Bhutto, Writer
Florence To, Artist
Frances Stacey, Curator
Gauranga Varia, Artist
Gillian Slovo, Writer
Gina Birch, Musician Artist
Gloria Dawson, Writer
Graham Hastings, Young Fathers Musician
Hanna Flint, Critic, Author, Presenter
Harriet Walter, Actor
Hassan Akkad, Author, Filmmaker
James Harker, Playwright
Jayce Salloum, Filmmaker
Jazz Cook, Editor, Writer
Jen Brister, Comedian
Jenna Jarvis, Writer
Jo Hauge, Artist
Jo Kali, Music Education
John Smith, Artist Filmmaker
Jolyon Maugham KC, Director, Good Law Project
Joseph Donald, Artist
Julia Jackman, Filmmaker
Juliet Stevenson, Actor
Khalid Abdalla, Actor
Kamila Shamsie, Writer
Katie Holten, Artist, Author
Kerrie Ann Murphy / BEARCAT, DJ
Kieran Yates, Author
Lara Pawson, Writer
Lena Heady, Actress, Writer, Director
Leo Kurunis, Musician
Lisa Moorish, Singer songwriter
Lolly Adefope, Actor
Lucy Bailey, Theatre Director
Lucy Moss, Theatre Writer/Director
Luis Jacob, Artist
Luke Rollason, Actor
Lynne Segal, Writer
Maggie Steed, Actor
Máiréad Tyers, Actor
Marina Warner, Writer
Maxine Peake, Actor
Megan Prescott, Actor
Michael Rosen, Writer, Broadcaster
Mike Leigh, Film Director, Writer
Mike Lerner, Filmmaker
Mikeala Loach, Author and climate justice activist
Milly Zero, Actor, Producer
Miriam Margolyes, Actor
Mirza Waheed, Writer
Misan Harriman, Photographer
Nadia Sawalha, TV Presenter
Niall Buggy, Actor
Niall Tessier-Lavigne, Artist
Nicholas Wright, Writer
Nikesh Shukla, Writer
Omar Robert Hamilton, Writer
Paapa Essiedu, Actor
Paloma Faith, Musician
Pam Hogg, Fashion Designer
Pauline Melville, Writer
Penny Woolcock, Filmmaker
Peter Collins, Graphic designer, Publisher
Peter Kennard, Artist
Phyllida Lloyd, Film Director
Pratibha Parmar, Filmmaker
Reneé Griffin, Musician
Riz Ahmed, Actor, Musician
Rob Myatt, Literary translator
Robert Del Naja, Artist, Massive Attack
Robyn Slovo, Producer
Rowan Lear, Artist
Ruth Lass, Actor
Saoirse Amira Anis, Artist, Producer
Sarah Reygate, Make-up artist
Sarah Shamash, Filmmaker
Sean Biggerstaff, Actor
Shze-Hui Tjoa, Author
Simon Manyonda, Actor
Sophie Monks Kaufman, Author
Steve Coogan, Comedian, Screenwriter, Actor
Steve Skaith, Songwriter, Latin Quarter
Suleiman Rimi, Actor
Susan Wooldridge, Actor, Writer
Tai Shani, Artist
Tobia Grieco, Filmmaker, Creative Executive
Tobias Menzies, Actor
Toby Marlow, Composer, Writer, Actor
Tom Cullen, Actor, Director
Topher Dagg, Circus Technician
Tracey Seaward, Film Producer
Vanessa Jackson, Artist
Victoria Brittain, Writer
Will Attenborough, Actor
Yara Rodrigues Fowler, Author
Yasmin Fedda, Filmmaker
Yo Zushi, Journalist

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• This letter was originally published by Artists for Palestine UK on June 2nd.