“We are urging you to immediately stop arms licences and exports to the Government of Israel. This is just one crucial step towards an immediate and permanent ceasefire for all Palestinians and Israelis.

According to our laws, the UK Government must stop issuing licences for arms sales if there is a clear risk they might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law.

From October 2023 to May this year, the Government issued over 100 new licences allowing UK companies to sell arms to Israel. During this same time, Israel has been killing civilians in Gaza indiscriminately. It has been deliberately depriving them of the essentials they need to survive.

The International Court of Justice has ruled there is a ‘plausible risk of a genocide’ in Gaza, and war crimes and crimes against humanity are also being committed. There is no doubt the risk of genocide is horrifyingly real.

Until it stops selling arms to Israel, the UK is complicit in the killing of civilians in Gaza.

As a new government, you have the opportunity to act now and do the right thing: end arms sales to Israel immediately.

Everyone in Gaza is in need of humanitarian assistance but the ongoing blockade and attacks have made it impossible for humanitarian organisations to adequately do their work. To stop the death and destruction, get aid to those who need it, and safely get hostages out, the UK must play its part in securing a ceasefire - starting by ending arms sales to Israel now.

Only then can the hard work of building lasting peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis start.

We ask you to:

• Immediately suspend arms licences and exports to the Government of Israel.
• Do everything in your power to help bring about an immediate and permanent ceasefire.”

The situation in Gaza is getting worse every day. Unimaginable violence by the Israeli military continues, and Palestinians are being deliberately deprived of everything they need to survive – water, food, medical help, and shelter.

Now the violence has intensified in Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East, forcing over a million people from their homes.

The UK is helping to fuel these horrific attacks by allowing arms sales to Israel, despite the clear risk that they are being used to commit war crimes.

Suspending just 29 out of 361 licenses is not enough. The UK is still making and selling parts for F-35 fighter jets that have been dropping bombs on Gaza and Lebanon.

The government must use its power to end ALL arms sales now. Not only will this end the UK’s complicity but it would also send a powerful message: the UK is serious about supporting an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

*Petition content was updated on 06 December 2024 to reflect the latest developments