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The Oscar-winning Star Wars actor and BAFTA-winning comedian joined Maxine Peake, Paloma Faith, Dame Harriet Walters and Asif Kapadia in urging the Labour leader to “end Britain’s complicity in war crimes in Gaza”.
The group also highlighted an order from the United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, calling on Israel to “immediately cease” its military attacks in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, which it claimed Tel Aviv had ignored.
In their letter to Mr Starmer, the artists said: “Countries such as Spain have already taken steps to halt arms sales to Israel. It is time for the UK to follow suit and demonstrate its commitment to human rights and international law.”
“Opinion polls show you are likely to win by promising ‘change’ and become our next Prime Minister.
“As a former human rights lawyer, you have a unique opportunity to effect meaningful change by ending UK complicity in war crimes in Gaza.”
The ICC arrest warrant to which the letter refers has been condemned as “outrageous” by US President Joe Biden, who also rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza – a claim Israel also strongly denies.
The calls from cultural figures will increase internal pressure on Starmer to address the crisis. crown, Harry potter The letter was also signed by actress Miriam Margolyes and Robert Del Naja, founding member of the band Massive Attack.
Anger over Labor’s stance on Gaza also dampened enthusiasm over its success in May’s local elections.
Foreign Secretary Cameron has so far resisted strong pressure to halt arms export licences to Israel, with the government arguing that UK defence exports to Israel in 2022 are “relatively small” at just £42 million worth.
The foreign minister also said that only around 0.1% of Israel’s total arms exports came from the UK.
But those calling for a ban stress that it is a highly symbolic move that would increase diplomatic pressure on Israel over its actions in Gaza.
A Labour spokesman said the government would immediately consider legal advice on taking office before making any decisions on arms exports.
A spokesman said: “Labour has repeatedly called on the government to publish at least an outline of its legal advice on arms sales, given our serious concerns over the horrific scenes in Gaza.”
“We have been clear that when it comes to arms exports, governments must comply with their obligations under both domestic and international law.”
“If Labour wins the election we will assess the latest legal advice and act accordingly.”
Read the full letter
Keir Starmer: Prime Minister promises to end arms sales to Israel
We, the undersigned, are writing to urge you, if elected Prime Minister, to commit to standing up against ongoing Israeli atrocities and to halt arms sales to Israel.
In just eight months, over 35,000 people have been killed by Israel. Last week, the UN’s highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ordered Israel to “immediately cease its military attacks in Rafah.” But Israel ignored the ruling, bombing the designated “safe zone” 60 times within 48 hours, resulting in the deaths of entire families.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Continuing to sell arms to a country whose leaders have been accused of serious violations of international law is morally reprehensible.
Countries such as Spain have already taken steps to end arms sales to Israel and it is time for the UK to follow suit and demonstrate its commitment to human rights and international law.
Polls suggest you are likely to win by promising “change” and become the next Prime Minister. As a former human rights lawyer, you have a unique opportunity to effect meaningful change by ending Britain’s complicity in war crimes in Gaza. You will have ample support; a majority of the British public supports an end to arms sales to Israel.
The UK must not further complicate the genocide of Palestinians. With Israeli leaders facing arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court, halting arms sales to Israel would send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate human rights violations and will stand up for the oppressed.
Sir Kiir, we urge you to seize this opportunity to bring about real change and demonstrate your commitment to justice and human rights. The lives of countless Palestinians depend on leaders like you acting with conviction.
Signer
Aisling Bea – author, actor and comedian
Alia Al-Zouby – Artistic Director
Alicia Pirmohamed – poet
Amar Shebib – film director
Andrew Milk – musician
Anna Shaffer – actor
Asif Kapadia – film director
Bella Freud – fashion designer
Bilal Hasna – actor
Brigid Keenan – author and journalist
Camilla Whitehill – author
Carla Theobold – actress
Kathy Ray – Author
Catrin Evans – theatre director
Chardin Taylor Stone – musician
Claire Corda – author and violinist
Courtier Newland – author
Crystal Benes – Artist
Dan Hancox – Author
David Sylvian – musician and artist
Davis – musician
Emily Berry – author
Esther Wakelin Stotten – art teacher, DJ
Eyal Sivan – film director
Farah Nabulsi – film director
Fatima Bhutto – author
Florence To – Artist
Frances Stacey – Curator
Gauranga Valya – Artist
Gillian Slovo – author
Gina Birch – musician/artist
Gloria Dawson – author
Graham Hastings, Young Fathers – musician
Hannah Flint – critic, author and presenter
Harriet Walter – actor
Hassan Akkad – writer and film director
James Harker – playwright
Jace Salloum – film director
Jazz Cook – Editor and writer
Jen Brister – comedian
Jenna Jarvis – Writer
Joe Hauge – Artist
Joe Cali – Music Education
John Smith – artist and filmmaker
Jolyon Maugham KC – Director, The Good Law Project
Joseph Donald – artist
Julia Jackman – film director
Juliet Stevenson – actor
Kamila Shamsie – author
Katie Holten – artist and author
Kelly Ann Murphy/BEARCAT – DJ
Ciaran Yates – author
Lara Pawson – author
Lena Headey – actress, writer, director
Leo Kournis – musician
Lisa Moorish – singer-songwriter
Rory Adefope – actor
Lucy Bailey – theatre director
Lucy Moss – playwright/director
Louis Jacob – artist
Luke Rollason – actor
Lynn Segal – author
Maggie Steed – actor
Married Tyers – actor
Marlena Warner – author
Maxine Peake – actor
Megan Prescott – actor
Michael Rosen – author
Mike Leigh – film director, screenwriter
Mike Lerner – film director
Mikeara Roach – author and climate justice activist
Milly Zero – actor, producer
Miriam Margolyes – actor
Mirza Waheed – author
Misan Harriman – Photographer
Nadia Sawalha – TV presenter
Niall Baggy – actor
Neil Tessier-Lavigne – artist
Nicholas Wright – author
Nikesh Shukla – Author
Omar Robert Hamilton – author
Papa Essiedu – actor
Paloma Faith – musician
Pam Hogg – fashion designer
Pauline Melville – author
Penny Woolcock – film director
Peter Collins – graphic designer and publisher
Peter Kennard – artist
Phyllida Lloyd – Director
Pratibha Parmar – film director
Renée Griffin – musician
Riz Ahmed – actor, musician
Rob Myatt – literary translator
Robert Del Naja, Massive Attack – Artist
Robin Slovo – Producer
Rowan Lear – artist
Ruth Russ – actor
Saoirse Amira Anis – artist, producer
Sarah Reigate – Makeup Artist
Sarah Shamash – film director
Sean Biggerstaff – actor
Shze-Hui Tjoa – author
Simon Manyonda – actor
Sophie Monks Kauffman – author
Steve Coogan – comedian, screenwriter, actor
Steve Skye – musician
Suleiman Rimi – actor
Susan Wooldridge – actor, author
Tai Shani – Artist
Tobia Grieco – Film director and creative executive
Tobias Menzies – actor
Toby Marlowe – composer, writer, actor
Tom Cullen – actor, director
Tracey Seward – film producer
Vanessa Jackson – Artist
Victoria Britten – author
Will Attenborough – actor
Yara Rodriguez Fowler – Author
Yasmine Fedda – film director
Yo Zushi – journalist and musician