London: Around 96 British parliamentarians have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to impose sanctions on Israel, expressing deep concern over the "relentless violence" faced by Palestinians. According to Anadolu Agency, the parliamentarians conveyed their demands through a letter to the prime minister, advocating for targeted sanctions and a trade ban with illegal Israeli settlements. They also called for the suspension of the Trade and Partnership Agreement between the UK and Israel, as highlighted in a press statement by The Council for Arab-British Understanding. The letter expressed grave concerns about the "relentless violence against Palestinians throughout the Occupied Palestinian territory" and urged the UK to address Israel's widespread and systematic violations of international law. It suggested that recent British sanctions against Israeli settler organizations linked to human rights abuses are insufficient. The letter further stated that the UK's ongoing diplomatic and economic engagements with Israeli institutions and settler organizations risk complicity in Israeli violations of international law. It called for sanctions against state officials, individual settlers, and the State of Israel itself. Moreover, the parliamentarians believe that the UK has the legal authority to suspend or terminate provisions of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. Joseph Willits, head of parliamentary affairs at the Council for Arab-British Understanding, noted that the letter signifies increasing parliamentary support for a tougher stance against Israel. This development comes amid ongoing conflict, with the Israeli army rejecting international calls for a ceasefire and continuing a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, resulting in nearly 55,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children. Additionally, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
