Three former Supreme Court justices, accompanied by over 600 British legal professionals, issued a joint plea urging the government to suspend arms sales to Israel.
The group highlighted potential complicity in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, expressing concerns about aiding and abetting what they term as genocide and breaches of international humanitarian law.
Their call gained further support from two prominent intelligence experts, emphasizing the necessity for Britain to utilize any available leverage to influence Israel and its primary supporter, the United States, to reconsider their approach to the conflict.
Despite historically strong ties with Israel, the British government, led by Foreign Secretary David Cameron, has adopted a more stringent stance, insisting on Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
Cameron’s recent statements reflect heightened scrutiny over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with ongoing assessments regarding the granting of export licenses for arms sales to Israel.
Jonathan Sumption, one of the former justices, expressed apprehension about the government potentially overlooking its international legal obligations.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently rejected any allegations of genocide, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to upholding international law.
While facing mounting pressure following the death of seven aid workers, including three British nationals, in Israeli airstrikes, the UK government remains hesitant to halt arms sales immediately.
Despite being a relatively minor supplier, Israel’s purchases constitute a fraction of Britain’s global defense sales.
Former intelligence figures Peter Ricketts and Alex Younger advocate using arms sales as leverage to address Israel’s compliance with international law.
Ricketts emphasizes the necessity of sending a message that could influence Washington, while Younger stresses the importance of minimizing civilian casualties.
This appeal echoes past instances where the British government intervened in arms sales to Israel, citing violations of international law, indicating a precedent for such actions.
