Overview

• Over 800 legal professionals, including former Supreme Court justices Lord Sumption and Lord Wilson, signed an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for sanctions on Israeli ministers and military officials
• The signatories warn of mounting evidence of genocide and accuse Israel of war crimes, crimes against humanity and serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza
• They demand an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid and the lifting of Israel’s ban on UNRWA operations in the occupied territory
• Although Foreign Secretary David Lammy last week suspended negotiations on a new free trade deal, lawyers say this falls short and urge suspension of the 2030 UK-Israel partnership roadmap along with broader financial and travel bans
• The letter also calls on the UK to confirm it will execute ICC arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant