UK public figures, along with Dua Lipa, call for an end to Britain's weapons exports to Israel
Renowned actors, musicians, activists, and other public figures have penned a letter imploring Prime Minister Keir Starmer to halt the UK's involvement in the ongoing turmoil in Gaza, claiming the nation is complicit in its horrors.
Notable signatories include pop sensation Dua Lipa, who has previously condemned Israel's offensive in Gaza as a "genocide." Other notable figures include Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Riz Ahmed, Paloma Faith, Annie Lennox, and Massive Attack.
The joint appeal, organized by the UK-based humanitarian aid and refugee advocacy organization Choose Love, demands urgent action. It calls upon the UK to guarantee full humanitarian access in Gaza, mediate an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and immediately suspend all arms sales to Israel.
The letter adds a sense of urgency, stating: "You can't call it 'intolerable' and keep sending arms."
Sports broadcaster Gary Lineker, who recently stepped down from his role at the BBC following a controversial social media post featuring anti-Semitic imagery, has also lent his support to the initiative.
The letter comes amid growing international concern about the conflict in Gaza. Over 800 UK lawyers, including Supreme Court justices, and 380 British and Irish writers have recently issued open letters warning of possible genocide in Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly rebuked genocide allegations and asserts that its military operations aim to curb Hamas following the lethal October 2023 attack by Palestinian militants. In the previous month, Starmer publicly denounced Israel's "egregious" renewed military offensive in Gaza, pledging to take further concrete actions if it did not cease.
Nonetheless, questions persist regarding the UK government's response to the crisis. In September 2024, the UK government suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing a "clear risk" of their misuse to violate humanitarian law. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the ongoing humanitarian needs in Gaza.
Global outrage has intensified after Israel ended a ceasefire in March, amplifying its military operations this month. The escalation has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and sparked alarm and fears of starvation after a prolonged blockade on aid entering the devastated territory. The conflict has left an indelible impact on the region, with Israel's military offensive killing thousands in Gaza, displacing nearly the entire population, and wreaking havoc across the besieged strip.
- The ongoing turmoil in Gaza is a subject of growing international concern, as seen in open letters from over 800 UK lawyers and 380 British and Irish writers, warning of potential genocide.
- The appeal for action, organized by the UK-based humanitarian aid organization Choose Love, has been signed by prominent figures such as Dua Lipa, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, and Gary Lineker, among others.
- The letter urges Prime Minister Keir Starmer to halt the UK's involvement in the Gaza crisis, calling for full humanitarian access, mediation of a permanent ceasefire, and the suspension of all arms sales to Israel.
- The conflict in Gaza, marked by civil strife, war-and-conflicts, and politics, has left a devastating impact on the region, with thousands killed, a near-total displacement of the population, and widespread destruction of infrastructure—a situation that has sparked global outrage and calls for urgent intervention.
