UK PM Rishi Sunak Receives Warning Letter For Arming Israel - Here's What It Says

The British government has been warned about the consequences of arming Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war by three former Supreme Court Justices of the United Kingdom, including the former president Lady Hale.

They were among 600 lawyers and academics who wrote a letter to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, stating that arming Israel at this stage of the war would breach international law.

Concerns have been raised by many within and outside the United Kingdom over Israel's ground operation in Gaza City, leading to the deaths of thousands of Gazans. Throughout the war, the United Kingdom has been an ardent supporter of Tel Aviv, with Sunak maintaining that Israel has the "right to defend itself," as reported by First Post.

Letter To UK PM - What they want?

The prime minister was informed in the letter by the senior judges that the present situation in Gaza is deemed "catastrophic." It was emphasized that considering the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined a "plausible risk" of genocide occurring in Gaza, the UK is "legally obliged" to take measures to prevent it. The 17-page letter was dispatched to the prime minister's office on Wednesday.

"It is stated in the letter that the continuation of the sale of weapons and weapons systems to Israel and the maintenance of threats of suspending UK aid to UNRWA are considered by the letter to fall significantly short of your government's obligations under international law," the letter reads.

Here's what the letter suggest

• The British government was urged by the letter to work towards a permanent ceasefire and to impose sanctions on "individuals and entities who have made statements inciting genocide against Palestinians", reported First Post.
• Additionally, the restoration of funding to the UNRWA was called for. The funding had been withdrawn by the Sunak administration after Israel alleged that 12 staff members of the UN agency were involved in the October 7 attacks.
• Some of the prominent signatories of the letter included former Supreme Court justices Lord Sumption and Lord Wilson, the former Lord Justices of Appeal Sir Stephen Sedley and Sir Alan Moses.
• The letter emphasized that the UK must take immediate measures to bring an end through lawful means to acts giving rise to a serious risk of genocide. It stated that failure to comply with its own obligations under the genocide convention would incur UK state responsibility for the commission of an international wrong.
• Furthermore, the government was called upon to continue to "use all endeavours" to secure the release of Israeli hostages that have remained in captivity since Oct. 7, as per media reports.
• The UK government has refused to publish its own legal advice on the matter, as confirmed earlier this week by Sunak. He stated that arm licenses were kept under "careful" review according to "regulations and procedures that we'll always follow".
• The Sunak administration faced political pressure after Conservative MPs continued to advocate for action following the death of seven international aid workers, including three British nationals, in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday.
• Reports indicate that UK Former Secretary David Cameron is also urging Sunak to continue putting pressure on the government to harden its approach to Israel.
• Conservative MPs David Jones, Paul Bristow, and Flick Drummond, as well as Tory leader Hugo Swire, all previously called for the suspension of arms exports to Israel.