British lawyers, judges accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, call for immediate UK sanctions
By isabelle // 2025-05-28
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  • More than 800 British legal experts, including former Supreme Court justices, demand UK sanctions on Israel and its expulsion from the UN over alleged genocide in Gaza.
  • The letter cites Israeli war crimes, including starvation tactics and attacks on civilians, with Gaza’s death toll exceeding 54,000, mostly women and children.
  • Signatories accuse Israel of violating international law, referencing its blockade and Finance Minister Smotrich’s vow to "wipe out" Gaza as evidence of ethnic cleansing.
  • The UK is criticized for complicity by continuing arms sales while suspending minor trade, failing to meet legal obligations under international law.
  • Israel’s targeting of UN agencies and defiance of ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant signal a broader assault on global legal institutions.
More than 800 British lawyers, academics, and retired judges, including former Supreme Court justices, have called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to impose immediate sanctions on Israel and support its expulsion from the United Nations over alleged genocide in Gaza. The legal experts, citing what they termed "mounting evidence" of war crimes and ethnic cleansing, delivered a scathing indictment of Israel’s military campaign, which has killed at least 54,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to Gaza health officials. Their demand exposes a growing rift between global institutions and Israel’s Western enablers, who continue arming a regime accused of "deliberate starvation" and "systematic destruction" of civilian life. The open letter, signed by luminaries like former UK Supreme Court justices Lord Sumption and Lord Wilson, accuses Israel of persistent violations of international law, including the UN Charter, and urges the UK to initiate proceedings under Article 6, a mechanism that could strip Israel of its UN membership. The letter referenced Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s vow to "wipe out" Gaza. The legal experts condemn Israel’s blockade as a "grave violation" of humanitarian law, noting that aid restrictions have created a "humanitarian catastrophe" with women and children accounting for nearly 60% of the dead. The letter’s signatories, including former Court of Appeal judges Sir Stephen Sedley and Sir Alan Moses, argue that Britain’s tepid response, such as suspending trade while while allowing arms sales, makes it complicit. "The UK’s actions to date have failed to meet [legal] standards," they write, demanding travel bans and asset freezes for Israeli officials "reasonably suspected of involvement in unlawful conduct." Their urgency reflects Gaza’s staggering toll: over 1,400 healthcare workers, 280 UN staff, and 180 journalists killed in the deadliest conflict for media personnel in modern history.

Israel’s war on the UN and international law

The lawyers also highlight Israel’s "unparalleled assault on the United Nations," including its expulsion of UNRWA, the primary aid agency for Palestinians, and attacks on UN facilities. Sir Alan Moses warned that failing to act would unleash "anarchy loosed upon the world," while Oxford professor Guy Goodwin-Gill accused Israel of ethnic cleansing designed to erase Palestinian self-determination. Their demands align with the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant—warrants the UK has yet to enforce. The letter also cites Netanyahu’s defiance of international law, including his rejection of ceasefire calls and expansion of illegal settlements. "The charge of genocide levelled against Israel is not only false, it’s outrageous," Netanyahu has claimed. The letter’s signatories represent a watershed moment: elite legal voices once hesitant to challenge Israel now demand accountability. With Gaza’s death toll rising daily and Western leaders like Starmer endorsing Israel’s "right" to blockade civilians, their intervention exposes the rot at the heart of so-called "rules-based order." As Conor Gearty, a human rights professor, warned: "Imagine a world without rules." For Palestinians, that world is already here, and the UK’s response will determine whether genocide is met with impunity or justice. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net TheGuardian.com BBC.com AlJazeera.com
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