Muslim Aid Media Centre

We welcome today's [8 September] announcement by the Foreign Secretary, which brings the UK closer into compliance with its legal and moral obligations to uphold international law and protect Palestinians.

Every day, our staff and partners witness the intolerable suffering inflicted on Palestinian communities, made possible by the impunity that has been granted to the Israeli government for its ongoing atrocities.

UK foreign policy must be determined first and foremost by what international law and basic humanity demand. The UK Government’s recognition that Israel’s decades-long occupation is unlawful, and support for accountability for what has happened in Gaza, is a substantial shift. By banning the import of goods from, and the provision of certain services to illegal Israeli settlements, and extending the suspension of arms licenses that materially contribute to the occupation, the new Government is making a good start.

We look forward to working constructively with them to ensure that these measures are comprehensive in scope and implementation, and meaningfully informed by Palestinians themselves. This must mark the beginning, not the end, of a wider reset of UK policy that upholds Palestinian rights and international law.

The British public have also made clear they support putting more pressure on Israel, including
through a ban on settlement trade and full suspension of arms exports, including F-35 parts.

Signatories:
1. Caabu
2. ActionAid UK
3. Medical Aid Palestinians (MAP)
4. Save the Children UK
5. Quakers in Britain
6. Amnesty International UK
7. SCIAF
8. Christian Aid
9. War Child UK
10. Islamic Relief UK
11. Women for Women International-UK
12. War on Want
13. Global Justice Now
14. Muslim Aid
15. CAFOD