The UK and international law – Palestine is the test | Letter

A group of peers, former ambassadors, and senior lawyers, including Vincent Fean and Helena Kennedy KC, have called for Israel to be held accountable for its actions in Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing the importance of international law. They highlight the International Court of Justice's two-year-old advisory opinion that the 1967 occupation of Palestine is unlawful, a position recognized by Keir Starmer. The authors argue that the UK's commitment to a rules-based international order necessitates challenging the occupation and applying consistent legal standards.

• They urge the UK government to ban trade in goods and services with illegal settlements, including financial services, drawing parallels with measures taken against Russia.
• The letter criticizes diplomacy that ignores international law, stating that the UN Security Council has "outsourced Gaza to the Board of Peace, prolonging the suffering of 2 million Palestinians."
• The authors demand that the government act with partners to ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian aid to Gaza, with consequences for denial.
• They conclude that the UK government's inconsistency in upholding international law undermines the very principles that ensure safety and due process.