British lawyers to call for tougher sanctions against Israel — The National
In Liverpool, United Kingdom, lawyers and legal experts plan to call on the Labour Party to strengthen sanctions against Israel during the annual party conference, which begins on Sunday. As The National reports, they consider the new restrictions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories insufficient and propose restricting or banning trade with Israel.
Lawyers’ demands
Tayab Ali, founder of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, said that sanctions should be expanded. He will speak at a Labour Muslim Network event focused on how to turn Labour’s commitments on Palestine into practical action.
Last week, an open letter calling on the government to step up action on the Palestinian issue and ensure the effective implementation of the sanctions regime was signed by 140 lawyers and legal experts. The signatories included former Court of Appeal judge Alan Moses and law professor Ralph Wilde. The letter’s authors believe that sanctions against Israel itself are necessary for full compliance with the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion.
The lawyers also called for settlement-related restrictions to be extended to insurance and reinsurance, logistics, technical support and other sectors.
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Government position and investigation into the deaths of three Britons
At the conference, Middle East Minister Stephen Doughty will answer questions about the Labour government’s regional policy. Foreign Affairs Committee chair Emily Thornberry and policy adviser Salman Sheikh are also expected to take part in the discussion.
Labour may also face demands to hold Israel accountable for the deaths of three former British servicemen during an Israeli drone attack in Gaza in April 2024, when they were delivering aid. According to Ali, who represents the family of one of those killed, the coroner indicated that the scope of the investigation could be expanded to include Israeli military personnel and a serviceman who, according to a source, may have ordered the attack.
Trade and Palestine Action
Earlier, the United Kingdom led an initiative by 12 countries to ban trade with illegal settlements. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said that trade with Israel within the “green line” would continue, as the government supports a two-state settlement. He also opposed the BDS boycott, sanctions and divestment campaign.
Activists are simultaneously pressuring Prime Minister Andy Burnham, demanding that the ban on Palestine Action be lifted. The group was added to the list of terrorist organisations after its members entered a British military airbase and damaged two aircraft. Defend Our Juries said it intends to hold a protest near the Labour conference in Liverpool.
