As a charity dedicated to equal rights, justice and security for Israelis and Palestinians, and education about Britain’s historical legacy in Palestine, the BPP calls on the UK Government to live up to its obligations under international law, including under the 1948 Genocide Convention. Below we outline a series of measures that the Government could and should take to fulfil its obligations under the Genocide Convention. The prevention of genocide and mass atrocities is a legal obligation for all nations. Only through decisive action can the UK help save lives in Gaza and hold the Government of Israel to account.
The duty to prevent genocide is triggered by the risk itself, not by a final legal determination. Genocidal acts and intent have been identified by multiple international observers and the International Court of Justice. As a State Party to the 1948 Genocide Convention, the United Kingdom is committed to preventing and punishing genocide wherever it occurs. As the world watches the people of Gaza being starved to death, and being shot for seeking minimal sustenance, while at the same time members of the Israeli Government express clear intent to go further; the British Government needs to act resolutely to try to prevent further atrocities and create a space for a peaceful solution.
We call on the British Government to:
- Immediately end all forms of military co-operation and arms trade with Israel, including, if proven, the use of RAF Akrotiri and Brize Norton for intelligence-gathering purposes in support of Israeli military action and including the resupply of United States war materiel to Israel.
- Declare that the UK agrees with the ICJ that there is a risk of genocide taking place and call on Israel to comply fully with the ICJ’s “Provisional Measures”.
- Though the Government says it is not a court and cannot make a judgment on the question of genocidal acts being committed, the UK could join the prevention of genocide case brought at the ICJ by South Africa, Ireland, Spain and others, and encourage other European and Commonwealth countries to follow suit.
- Issue a public notice notifying citizens who have served in the IDF in Gaza of the risk of prosecution for suspected war crimes if they return to the UK.
- Suspend the UK Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, on the grounds of Israel’s breach of its human rights provisions.
- Persuade key European states to act now to suspend the EU Israel Association Agreement because of Israel’s clear breach of its human rights provisions.
- Ban all engagement with illegal settlements and trade in settlement goods and services.
- Ban commercial, cultural, sporting and academic links with all Israeli public and private institutions based across the pre-1967 Green Line in illegal settlements thus implementing the ICJ Advisory Opinion of July 2024 on the unlawful nature of the 1967 Occupation.
- Work with a broad coalition of states to suspend Israel’s membership of the United Nations until it is judged by the UN General Aassembly to be again in compliance with its Charter obligations and fully respects International Humanitarian Law and all human rights conventions to which it is a signatory.
- Recognise the independent sovereign state of Palestine.
In addition, the Government should redouble UK efforts to achieve a full unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the return of all the hostages and the remains of hostages who have been killed.