Israel’s devastating attacks on Gaza and its continued unlawful military operations and land seizure across the West Bank have led to calls for the UK to enact sanctions to prevent further grave breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Sanctions are necessary for the UK to comply with key international obligations as laid out by the International Court of Justice. The UK has an active obligation to take measures to prevent genocide and ensure that its trade relations with Israel do not assist its illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
Sanctions would be an important source of leverage the UK could use to put pressure on Israel. The UK is a much more important trade partner for Israel than vice versa, and the UK’s commitment to ‘business-as-usual’ with Israel helps to normalise
This briefing describes five key areas in which sanctions could target parts of Israel’s economy involved in Israel’s serious violations of international law, as well as agreements that are explicitly premised on respect for human rights.
Joint parliamentary briefing by the Global Legal Action Network, Global Justice Now, International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, Trade Justice Movement and War on Want.