Introduce economic sanctions on Israel

The UK Government should impose economic sanctions upon Israel in all forms: Trade Embargoes, Tariffs and Import Restrictions, Export Controls, Financial Sanctions (assets of individuals), Investment Restrictions, Technology Transfer Restrictions, Currency Controls, and Energy Sanctions.

The Israeli government announced a complete blockade of no electricity, fuel, food or water. Gaza is now out of fuel. Whatever is left of their hospital systems is facing collapse. With reports of over 1,000 dead (hundreds being children), the wounded now have limited access to treatment and aid has been shut off from all directions. Without electricity, the few voices from the ground may disappear. What little remains of the now cut-off water supply may dry up.

Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas on 7th October 2023. We support Israel’s security, but it must comply with International Humanitarian law, as we have said from the outset.

Palestinian civilians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

We want the fighting to stop now and are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.

There must be a reduction in civilian casualties. All parties must act within International Humanitarian Law. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

The UK is playing a leadership role in alleviating the suffering in Gaza. We more than trebled our aid commitment in the 2023-24 financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air.

On 20 March the Foreign Secretary also announced the UK has funded the World Food Programme to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. In addition, a field hospital, provided by UK Aid funding to UK-Med, has also arrived in Gaza; this facility, staffed by UK and local medics, is able to treat over 100 patients a day.

We have also set out very clearly the steps that Israel needs to take to increase capacity inside Gaza and fully enable the UN's minimal operating requirements, as well as to increase access for aid. We also need to see an expansion of the types of aid allowed into Gaza and the provision of electricity, water and telecommunications, to both the north and the south of Gaza.