“This blatant land grab is yet another attempt to drive Palestinians from their homes and expand illegal Israeli settlements. It amounts to the de facto annexation of the West Bank and is in clear violation of international law.”
Richard Burgon MP and Imran Hussain MP’s letter to the Foreign Secretary
Richard Burgon MP and Imran Hussain MP have written to the Foreign Secretary demanding sanctions on Israel following the announcement of the West Bank Annexation Plan, which is in clear violation of international law. You can read the letter published in full below:
Dear Foreign Secretary,
Re: Urgent Sanctions Required in Response to Israel’s West Bank Annexation Plan
We write to call on you to impose immediate sanctions on Israel following the Israeli Government’s approval on 15th February of an illegal and reactionary plan to register land in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of the West Bank as Israeli ‘state property’.
This blatant land grab is yet another attempt to drive Palestinians from their homes and expand illegal Israeli settlements. It amounts to the de facto annexation of the West Bank and is in clear violation of international law.
We note that the UK has backed a statement at the UN from 85 nations stating that these actions are “contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed” and expressing “strong opposition to any form of annexation.”
However, while such statements are welcome, they are plainly not enough. Israel has drawn the lesson from the genocide in Gaza that States will not meaningfully hold it to account. Inaction by Western governments has been interpreted as a green light to deepen its illegal occupation.
This is a moment to show that the UK’s stated commitment to international law and human rights amounts to more than words. The Government must impose sanctions, as required by its obligations under international law.
The UK Government has rightly imposed widespread sanctions on Russia for its illegal war on Ukraine. Yet it has failed to act on anything approaching the same scale in response to Israel’s war crimes and breaches of international law. This double standard must end.
The International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark Advisory Opinion issued in July 2024 found that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is unlawful, must end “as rapidly as possible” and all new settlement activity must cease.
It also makes clear that all States, including the UK, have an obligation to impose sanctions and take other concrete steps to uphold their legal obligations under international law.
Since then, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has become much worse, not only with the genocide in Gaza but also in the West Bank. There, settler violence, house demolitions and colonial land grabs have intensified to levels not seen in years. These are grave violations of international law and must not be met with impunity.
Following the ICJ ruling, we have coordinated letters to the Foreign Office from almost 100 UK Parliamentarians, calling for the UK Government to impose sanctions to meet its legal obligations and comply with the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion.
Due to the Government’s failure to properly act, we have also established a Westminster Working Group for Sanctions on Israel to step up campaigning for the measures the UK must take in line with the ICJ ruling.
We again call on the UK Government to act without delay by:
- Imposing targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes on all individuals and entities complicit in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT
- Banning all trade in goods and services with illegal Israeli settlements and ending any other trade or financial interactions that aid or assist Israel’s violations of international law.
- Suspending the UK-Israel trade agreement until Israel complies with international law.
- Implementing a two-way arms embargo on Israel including the export of F-35 components and other equipment that may be used in international law violations.
We also call for a comprehensive review of all UK-Israel trade, security, military and diplomatic relations to ensure that none contribute, directly or indirectly, to sustaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT or other violations of international law.
We urge you to act decisively and without delay.Richard Burgon MP and Imran Hussain MP
Founders of the Westminster Working Group for Sanctions on Israel
- The Palestine Solidarity Campaign are urging supporters to write to demand that the Government oppose Israel’s annexation of West Bank. Write to the Foreign Secretary here.
- Richard Burgon is the MP for Leeds East and the Secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
- Imran Hussain MP is the MP for Bradford East, you can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
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