Over 100 British artists urge PM candidate Keir Starmer to halt arms sales to Israel

Riz Ahmed and Paloma Faith among those calling on the Labour party leader to 'take a principled stand'.

Images Staff
04 Jun, 2024

Over a hundred British artists urged Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader running for premier, to halt arms sales to Israel and stand against the ongoing atrocities committed in Gaza if he becomes prime minister.

According to The Guardian, the letter adds to pressure on Starmer after London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and more than 50 Labour members of parliament demanded that the UK government stop supplying Israel with weapons.

The letter, which is signed by Riz Ahmed, Kamila Shamsie, Paloma Faith, Fatima Bhutto, Miriam Margolyes and many others, stated that Starmer, as a former human rights lawyer, had “a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change by ending UK complicity in war crimes in Gaza”. It further said that in doing so, Starmer would be “well supported”, as a majority of the British public supported ending arms sales to Israel.

It highlighted that in eight months, more than 35,000 people were killed by Israel and that the International Court of Justice had ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, which they disregarded and continued to bomb the designated safe space.

“Continuing to sell arms to a country whose leader is accused of such grave violations of international law is morally reprehensible,” it read, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently faced arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The artists urged Starmer to bring about real change and demonstrate his commitment to justice and human rights as “the lives of countless Palestinians depend on leaders…taking a principled stand”.

Meanwhile, Starmer suggested that legal advice on UK arms sales to Israel would be reviewed under a Labour government. According to MSN.com, the Labour Party leader said, “The Rafah offensive should not go ahead. And that I think our government should follow the US lead on this in relation to arms sales and review the licences to see whether any of them would be or are being used in the Rafah offensive.”

Read the full letter:

“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.“