Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has urged the government to halt arms sales to Israel, joining over 100 MPs in signing a letter to the foreign secretary and business secretary.
Campaigners welcomed the move from Mrs Hobhouse | Photo © Bath Campaigns Network
The cross-party letter described the “business as usual” approach for UK arms exports to Israel as “totally unacceptable” and called for export licences to be suspended.
It stated: “The case for this is overwhelming. More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault, 70% women and children.”
Ms Hobhouse said: “The situation in Gaza is utterly devastating. I am in no doubt that a humanitarian catastrophe is taking place.
“I have repeatedly called for our government to be on the side of peace. But peace will continue to be a long way off if they do not immediately end arms sales to Israel.”
Mrs Hobhouse said she urges the foreign secretary to heed the calls of the United Nations to immediately stop arms exports to Israel and follow in the footsteps of other countries across the globe, most recently Canada, who have announced they will be halting future arms sales to Israel.
107 MPs and 27 peers signed the letter, which was coordinated by Zarah Sultana MP (Labour, Coventry).
It comes after the International Court of Justice’s assessment that Israel is “plausibly” in breach of the Genocide Convention.
It warned that British-made weapons were being used in Gaza. A UN investigation found it likely that it was an Israeli F-16 made with British parts that bombed British doctors in an emergency medical team from the International Rescue Committee and Medical Aid for Palestinians in January.
The letter added that arms licences were suspended during an escalation of the conflict in 2009 and the government said in 2014 they would be suspended if hostilities resumed.
Campaigners in Bath, who have been calling on local politicians to do more to call for an end to the conflict, have welcomed the move from their MP.
A spokesperson for Bath Campaigns Network said: “Wera showed courage and personal integrity. She has listened to her Bath constituents who have been campaigning tirelessly and lobbying her for a ceasefire and a halt to arms sales to Israel, and she has placed herself firmly on the right side of history.
“We need strong voices in our parliament to make sure that the bloodshed in Gaza does not continue or escalate into further widespread conflict.
“Wera has taken the first steps, and we hope that she will continue on this path”.
The group has called for Bath & North East Somerset Council to pass a motion to call the government to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Somerset Council and North Somerset Council have.
But an attempt to table a cross-party motion in November did not get enough support and a Green group motion in March was judged to be unconstitutional as it did not relate to the council’s responsibilities and functions.
The chair of the council instead read a statement from all party group leaders which stated: “We would like to express deep sympathy for all those affected by the conflict in Palestine and Israel.
“To those in the Bath and North East Somerset area who have been affected by this conflict, we offer our support during this difficult time.
“We hope for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to this conflict. We hope for the immediate release of all hostages and for aid to be delivered.
“We believe that Muslims, Jews and people of all faiths and none should feel safe and supported throughout the world and we therefore condemn the increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic violence and abuse in the UK.
“In particular, we condemn the use of all dehumanising language and call on our communities to treat each other with respect and refrain from inflammatory terms to describe either the Palestinian or Israeli populations.”
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
